With the Australian Grand Prix set to begin practice session tonight, qualifying tomorrow, and the race on Saturday night, anyone have any pre-race favourites? What do you think about the new changes and qualifying format? And will Ferrari struggle until their new F2005 makes it's debute in Spain?
Formula 1 season begins.....predictions???
- Thread starter new_baller
- Start date
my picks...
i dont think ferrari will struggle at all with the modified 2004 car running the first four or five races. they will still be competitive up at the top, though, i dont think, if they do win, that it will be a runaway, like last year. i never discount the talents of michael schumacher behind the wheel, he can make the difference for ferrari. if they do struggle in the first 3 fly-away races of the year, watch how fast they get that new car on the grid.
that being said, i do believe it will be one of the mclaren boys, kimi raikkonen or juan pablo montoya, taking this one. the renaults shall be interesting, because during the course of winter testing, they sure showed that they had found a considerable amount of pace over last years car.
but, when the cars hit the track tonite for testing (YEAH BABY!!!!
), we will all see who has been sandbagging and who has been showing their true form during the winter testing season.
Plyrs99
i dont think ferrari will struggle at all with the modified 2004 car running the first four or five races. they will still be competitive up at the top, though, i dont think, if they do win, that it will be a runaway, like last year. i never discount the talents of michael schumacher behind the wheel, he can make the difference for ferrari. if they do struggle in the first 3 fly-away races of the year, watch how fast they get that new car on the grid.
that being said, i do believe it will be one of the mclaren boys, kimi raikkonen or juan pablo montoya, taking this one. the renaults shall be interesting, because during the course of winter testing, they sure showed that they had found a considerable amount of pace over last years car.
but, when the cars hit the track tonite for testing (YEAH BABY!!!!
), we will all see who has been sandbagging and who has been showing their true form during the winter testing season.Plyrs99
Sentimental favourite Jacques Villenueve. I really hope he gets to redeem his image. I think JPM will do well, take it to Schumacher, plus, he's fit and motivated with a top team now. The new tire rules will really help guys like Jensen Button, who is one of the smoothest drivers on the grid these days.
Hmmm....shocking poll results
Surprising that pretty much everyone picks Ferrari huh?
I too would pick Ferrari (going out on a limb....I know LOL) because they have the best driver in the world. IMO, he's head and shoulders above everyone else... and the greatest driver of this generation. Better than even Senna. Having watched both drivers in their prime, I think Ayrton was equally as talented as Schumacher, but unfortunately his premature death prevented him from accomplishing more things to further elevate his great legacy.
Schumacher's proven that as long as his car holds up and stays away from collisions, he's practically unbeatable- rain or shine. While I'll agree that having a good car in F1 makes a huge difference, Schumacher has proven he can beat everyone even w/ a mediocre car. Remember his 2 F1 championships while driving for Benneton. That car was powered by Ford!- hardly an engine powerhouse in F1.
Unless he breaks his hand from excessive money counting or signing too many autographs, Schumacher and therefore Ferrari is the team to beat. IMO, It's more a case of the title is for them to lose as opposed to a title for others to win.
Surprising that pretty much everyone picks Ferrari huh?
I too would pick Ferrari (going out on a limb....I know LOL) because they have the best driver in the world. IMO, he's head and shoulders above everyone else... and the greatest driver of this generation. Better than even Senna. Having watched both drivers in their prime, I think Ayrton was equally as talented as Schumacher, but unfortunately his premature death prevented him from accomplishing more things to further elevate his great legacy.
Schumacher's proven that as long as his car holds up and stays away from collisions, he's practically unbeatable- rain or shine. While I'll agree that having a good car in F1 makes a huge difference, Schumacher has proven he can beat everyone even w/ a mediocre car. Remember his 2 F1 championships while driving for Benneton. That car was powered by Ford!- hardly an engine powerhouse in F1.
Unless he breaks his hand from excessive money counting or signing too many autographs, Schumacher and therefore Ferrari is the team to beat. IMO, It's more a case of the title is for them to lose as opposed to a title for others to win.
smart_alek said:
Sorry smart_alek, I can understand your enthusiasm for our Canadian boy Jacques (although he's lived in Monoco practically his whole life) but he will be hardly "taking it" to Schuey this year, unless he's delivering fast-food to him and Ferrari. JV drives for Sauber, hardly a top team, more like a middle-of-the-pack team. Plus they use old Ferrari engines. Schumacher hand me downs.
Actually, they are running the newest Ferrari engines. Even newer than what the Scuderia team are currently running. This is because the Ferrari team is still using last year's Chassis with modifications for the new aerodynamnic rules. The new engine does not fit in the older chassis.
Also, Villenueve is currently in 4th place on the grid.
Also, Villenueve is currently in 4th place on the grid.
I will bet that, someone will pass someone else, on the track, during an actual race, at least 10 times, over the course of the entire season.
This wager becomers null and void, if an owner, tells a racer, to pull over and let someone else pass, even if the passee, is a member of the, "I let him pass me" team.
Dave
This wager becomers null and void, if an owner, tells a racer, to pull over and let someone else pass, even if the passee, is a member of the, "I let him pass me" team.
Dave
well....
after the way the rain in melbourne completely caused chaos for the drivers in the first qualifying session, i venture to say to you rembrandt, your rather assinine prediction of someone making at least 10 passes in a race, over the course of the season, will fall in the first race of the year. with schumi pretty much guaranteed a poor starting spot now on the grid, watch for him to fill up on fuel, and pass quite alot of the backmarkers by the time the first pit stops have taken place. same goes for the mclaren boys, kimi and juan.
as for jacques and his 4th place, all down to luck. up until his JV's teammates very bad timing with the rain on his qualifying lap, massa had been about 1 and a half to 2 complete seconds faster per lap, than jacques. your first job in F1, is to beat your own teammate, and JV has alot of proving to do in that regard.
really shaping up to be an interesting grid.
Plyrs99
after the way the rain in melbourne completely caused chaos for the drivers in the first qualifying session, i venture to say to you rembrandt, your rather assinine prediction of someone making at least 10 passes in a race, over the course of the season, will fall in the first race of the year. with schumi pretty much guaranteed a poor starting spot now on the grid, watch for him to fill up on fuel, and pass quite alot of the backmarkers by the time the first pit stops have taken place. same goes for the mclaren boys, kimi and juan.
as for jacques and his 4th place, all down to luck. up until his JV's teammates very bad timing with the rain on his qualifying lap, massa had been about 1 and a half to 2 complete seconds faster per lap, than jacques. your first job in F1, is to beat your own teammate, and JV has alot of proving to do in that regard.
really shaping up to be an interesting grid.
Plyrs99
Yea I definetly have to agree I think Montoya has something to prove this year so I think he will rank right up there.
