Friday, February 29, 2008
McLaren
(I know I'm not sticking to the "technical" order, but hey I'm doing an order of importance or something approaching that)
The Team
A team that needs to move it's focus back to the racetrack. If they can manage to control the politics they will in with a chance of winning both world championships.
The Drivers
Lewis Hamilton steps up to become team leader (not that McLaren has such a thing technically). There have been conflicting reports written about whether Lewis will be good or bad without traction control. I personally think he's going to go well. As far as I see it traction control protects less than perfect drivers and when you look at some of Lewis' manoeuvres last year you'd have to admit he had supurb car control. This could be his year. And despite many people saying that it will be harder this year because people expect more of him I think again he'll be ready. It's not as if he didn't spend half a season leading the world championship last year.
Heikki Kovalainen replaces Alonso yet again and hopefully he can make the same progress. The lack of experience in this team in theory should be balanced by Pedro de la Rosa, but he's seemed a bit put out over the winter. Heikki is the ideal candidate for the number 2 slot. Rather like Massa he's very good but perhaps not "special". That may be being a bit hard on him, but I'm not sure he's world championship material. I think he'll keep Lewis honest but support him when he needs to.
Obstacles
If, as is rumoured, Ron is on the way out then the team will be totally distablised. But even if he isn't just having to deal with all of the press, the racism business and so on must have slightly distracted them at this most crucial time. They have a very focused, very fast red car to beat and that's not going to be easy. There were fewer mechanical problems last year by such a long way that it's hard to criticise them at all, but this number needs to be down near zero a bit more.
Prediction
Will almost certainly end the season in first or second place.
The Team
A team that needs to move it's focus back to the racetrack. If they can manage to control the politics they will in with a chance of winning both world championships.
The Drivers
Lewis Hamilton steps up to become team leader (not that McLaren has such a thing technically). There have been conflicting reports written about whether Lewis will be good or bad without traction control. I personally think he's going to go well. As far as I see it traction control protects less than perfect drivers and when you look at some of Lewis' manoeuvres last year you'd have to admit he had supurb car control. This could be his year. And despite many people saying that it will be harder this year because people expect more of him I think again he'll be ready. It's not as if he didn't spend half a season leading the world championship last year.
Heikki Kovalainen replaces Alonso yet again and hopefully he can make the same progress. The lack of experience in this team in theory should be balanced by Pedro de la Rosa, but he's seemed a bit put out over the winter. Heikki is the ideal candidate for the number 2 slot. Rather like Massa he's very good but perhaps not "special". That may be being a bit hard on him, but I'm not sure he's world championship material. I think he'll keep Lewis honest but support him when he needs to.
Obstacles
If, as is rumoured, Ron is on the way out then the team will be totally distablised. But even if he isn't just having to deal with all of the press, the racism business and so on must have slightly distracted them at this most crucial time. They have a very focused, very fast red car to beat and that's not going to be easy. There were fewer mechanical problems last year by such a long way that it's hard to criticise them at all, but this number needs to be down near zero a bit more.
Prediction
Will almost certainly end the season in first or second place.
Labels: 2008 Outlook
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Ferrari
The Team
A stable driver line up. The world championship team from last year. And with questions about Ross Brawn's return now extinguished the team had a chance to get on with it over the break. They are probably favourites for the constructors championship.
The Drivers
Kimi Raikkonen has finally got that world championship that he so craved - even though he claimed it didn't matter to him before. Despite his calm ice man image we've seen him falter from time to time and make mistakes when the race is really important to him - think Monaco last year. Perhaps the championship win will have calmed him down. You should never really trust anything from testing but this week Kimi was comfortable enough in the team to race at the same track as Michael. Kimi beat him by 0.1s which at least shows something. What it shows is a choice between: Kimi's not dulled by winning, Schumi's finally started slowing down or perhaps most importantantly Ferrari are willing to give the kudos to the new boy.
Massa had a good beginning to the season at Ferrari last year but couldn't quite hold it together. Last season was an incredibly important season for Ferrari because they really did seem to give both drivers an equal chance. Will Marenello allow that to continue now Kimi has won the double? I doubt it. Massa may have blown his only chance. And even without the politics Kimi could be excused learning at the beginning of the season as he seemed to improve almost every time out. Massa seemed to stand still. Expect Kimi to be even further in front. Massa may now only be a wing man.
Obstacles
What could stand in their way? McLaren were actually faster than them in the most recent test - just. And perhaps the competition won't be shredding itself in half this year. Ferrari walked into the constructors championship last year rather than winning it outright. McLaren haven't forgotten how to make a fast car. And there are rumours of a traction control device on the Ferrari. If there is a "rule clarification" early in the season it could be very destabilising.
Prediction
Will almost certainly end the season in first or second place.
A stable driver line up. The world championship team from last year. And with questions about Ross Brawn's return now extinguished the team had a chance to get on with it over the break. They are probably favourites for the constructors championship.
The Drivers
Kimi Raikkonen has finally got that world championship that he so craved - even though he claimed it didn't matter to him before. Despite his calm ice man image we've seen him falter from time to time and make mistakes when the race is really important to him - think Monaco last year. Perhaps the championship win will have calmed him down. You should never really trust anything from testing but this week Kimi was comfortable enough in the team to race at the same track as Michael. Kimi beat him by 0.1s which at least shows something. What it shows is a choice between: Kimi's not dulled by winning, Schumi's finally started slowing down or perhaps most importantantly Ferrari are willing to give the kudos to the new boy.
Massa had a good beginning to the season at Ferrari last year but couldn't quite hold it together. Last season was an incredibly important season for Ferrari because they really did seem to give both drivers an equal chance. Will Marenello allow that to continue now Kimi has won the double? I doubt it. Massa may have blown his only chance. And even without the politics Kimi could be excused learning at the beginning of the season as he seemed to improve almost every time out. Massa seemed to stand still. Expect Kimi to be even further in front. Massa may now only be a wing man.
Obstacles
What could stand in their way? McLaren were actually faster than them in the most recent test - just. And perhaps the competition won't be shredding itself in half this year. Ferrari walked into the constructors championship last year rather than winning it outright. McLaren haven't forgotten how to make a fast car. And there are rumours of a traction control device on the Ferrari. If there is a "rule clarification" early in the season it could be very destabilising.
Prediction
Will almost certainly end the season in first or second place.
Labels: 2008 Outlook
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Fraudulent Ferrari?
We don't know how many times Renualt will win this year but we seem confident that it will happen at least once.
With Ferrari seemingly way out in front, the inevitable claims of cheating have come tagging along behind. Jarno Trulli from Toyota has hinted strongly that he thinks the Ferrari's can turn in wherever they want. He seems to be suggesting that they have got round the traction control ban. Whereas Max says they haven't because it's impossible.
I'm inclined to think it unlikely because it explains the increased disparity between the speeds of Kimi (who didn't like traction control
- and is going faster) and Massa (who says he misses it and is going slower).
But what do you think? Have a vote in our poll.
With Ferrari seemingly way out in front, the inevitable claims of cheating have come tagging along behind. Jarno Trulli from Toyota has hinted strongly that he thinks the Ferrari's can turn in wherever they want. He seems to be suggesting that they have got round the traction control ban. Whereas Max says they haven't because it's impossible.
I'm inclined to think it unlikely because it explains the increased disparity between the speeds of Kimi (who didn't like traction control
- and is going faster) and Massa (who says he misses it and is going slower).
But what do you think? Have a vote in our poll.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Doffing the Budget Cap
The new suggestion being debated in the Formula 1 world is that there will be a budget cap for teams. It seems like a really easy way to level the playing field. But of course it is a completely flawed model (as far as I can tell).
If Ferrari have the fastest car today and Force India have the slowest.
They are both allowed to spend the same amount of money each year.
Which car in ten years will be the fastest and which will be the slowest?
The same cars. If nobody is allowed to spend more money how can one team improve over another?
The budget cuts are ostensibly to keep the small teams in the sport. There is a much easier way of doing this.
The prize money shouldn't be prize money, it should become participation money. Every team should get an equal cut of the pot simply for taking part. That would be much fairer to all concerned. And would mean that it would be harder for a back-marker to go bust.
If Ferrari have the fastest car today and Force India have the slowest.
They are both allowed to spend the same amount of money each year.
Which car in ten years will be the fastest and which will be the slowest?
The same cars. If nobody is allowed to spend more money how can one team improve over another?
The budget cuts are ostensibly to keep the small teams in the sport. There is a much easier way of doing this.
The prize money shouldn't be prize money, it should become participation money. Every team should get an equal cut of the pot simply for taking part. That would be much fairer to all concerned. And would mean that it would be harder for a back-marker to go bust.
Friday, February 08, 2008
Racism in F1
So racism has reared it's ugly head. I totally agree that the FIA should stamp hard on this kind of behaviour. Sweeping it under the carpet is not the answer.
I have been kind of surprised at some of the reaction which seems to almost suggest that F1 hadn't had any racist incidents until this week. It almost sounds like they are complaining about a black guy coming into their sport and causing this racism.
Anyway as many have said, in a time when the FIA seems to make a large number of boneheaded decisions, this seems to have been handled very well. Spain know's it's on probation.
I have been kind of surprised at some of the reaction which seems to almost suggest that F1 hadn't had any racist incidents until this week. It almost sounds like they are complaining about a black guy coming into their sport and causing this racism.
Anyway as many have said, in a time when the FIA seems to make a large number of boneheaded decisions, this seems to have been handled very well. Spain know's it's on probation.
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Is it Fast Fernando?
So the collective brain of SofaF1 readers thinks consistent points are the best Jenson can hope for in 2008 - and I'm inclined to agree with you.
But what about Renault and Alonso? He said after his first test that he felt the Renault was a second off of the pace. With it looking like BMW may have miss-stepped even a slight improvement might move Renault back to the number 3 spot. So this poll is about this years Renault, what's going to happen?
