My money is on either Kimi or Montoya, although it wouyd be nice to see Button do well in the BAR. Also you can't discount Michael Shumacher.

As for Coulthard, it's time he hung up his helmet if you ask me.

Has anyone else noticed how the drivers that complain the most don't seem to do that well. Vielneuve spent all of last season mouthing off and came knowhere, Eddie Irvine couldn't keep his mouth shut and amounted to nothing and Coulthard spends most of his time complaining about the rules and whinging about Michael, but not winning. The ones that win are those that keep quiet, concentrate on what they are doing and get on with the job, ie Hakinnen, Michael Schumaker, Kimi etc.  

Oh and Barichello, not a chance. Ferrari won't let him beat Michael. As for the Saubers, or the Ferrari second team as they are also known. I'd put money on them not putting upo much of a fight if they have a Ferrari behind them.

I honestly don't think Michael would race if he was not going for the win. They might not make Rubens pull over and let Michael past this season (although I doubt it), but they definately won't make Micheal pull over to let Rubens win.

Bottom line is Ferrari want their driver to win the championship, Michael is the better of the two and has the best chance of beating the opposition. It would be nice to think that Rubens would be given an equal chance, but if Ferrari let the two of them really race each other then they reduce their chances of winning.   

I think DC has the ability - he just need sot put in 100% and do the testing and work towards the qualifying.. in race he's right up there when he wants to be.. a top 3 place would be good.

JP could be one to watch in the new FW26.. absolute cracker and a great reposte to the delicate Ferrari.. no one should discount RS either - he was right up there until the last few races and a bit of bad luck. 2005 could be his year if Williams keep devleoping the car and BMW have got that engine down to a t.

I'll be waving my BM Williams flag at the British GP - even got tickets to the qualifying this year.. nice!

Rgds

MB

Thepits,

So driving around a big oval is proper racing is it. hmmm.........

thepits,

I agree about all the electronic gizmos. F1 cars shouldn't have auto boxes or traction control in my view. Despite this I doubt that driving an F1 car is easy. It's got to be loads harded than driving a car round a big oval!

They are both different types of racing but require equal amounts of concentration and stamina.

The development of any of the gizmos in F1 and other forms of motorsport are slowly filtering their way through to modern cars - whether they should be allowed is difficult to say. Also the regulations are so easily twisted that it is difficult to police by the FIA.

Cant wait till tomorrow morning for the 1st quailifying of the year.

Come on Williams/Montoya, we have to beat Ferrari !

Does anyone go to the Gp's?  Went to the French and British ones last year.

DC will not win the championship, for an outside bet, watch J. Button.

I would agree the oval & circuit racing are very different though I would have to say from having watched both over the years - seconds can be lost and gained in Indy or Cart but seems so much harder to do in F1.. the margin of error between pole and back of the grid is much smaller and cars are less evenly matched - placing more onus on drivers to eak out more from driving skill.

As to driving standard - well cream rises to the top & name one oval racer who wouldn't jump at an F1 seat...those who could actually adapt to proper circuit racing that is..?

Ironically there's a lot I like about American cart racing - mainly because technology lags a couple of years.. more onus is placed on engines, less on pit stop tactics and it is less weighed down by regs introduced for Marketing and obscure Euro safety regulations. I for one would like to see 1 oval-style race on the F1 calendar but then there's a few things (old circuits) I would like to see on the calendar.. it's ok building super high tech circuits over the world but surely not at the expense of our racing heritage tracks throughout Europe & US (ahh Palm beach anyone?)..

Only yesterday (before he stormed off) JPM was saying the FW26 still had a bit to go before it was the fastest out there and wouldn't be surprised if Ferrari was quickest from outset.. that indicates a few things still unresolved from testing.

We know the Renaults have excellent chassis and last season Renault vowed to provide more power for 2004..

For me the FW26 'Hammed Head/Manta Ray'  is a good representation of the BMW car - engine first. Ferrari has a delicate steed - only fitting for the prancing horse - good in every dept but not excelling in any one. Some thought into form rather than 100% function is always evident in the red cars. McLarens probably have the best chassis & technical ability albeit not always the largest budget (I hear Toyota is writing the biggest cheques in their technical devleopment program right now).. & so looks quite clinical, aerodynamic and efficiently made.. Renaults are creative (v. much the Lotus of the hour).. and sometimes have quite unusual fairings & set ups... always willing to experiment.

I for one would like to see more contrasting shapes out on the grid but, alas, modern aerodynamics will rarely permit this.

MB

Well, what a disappointment. I know its only the first race of the season but I will be very supprised if Michael Schumacker and Ferrari don't win the championship this year. What happened to the challenge from Williams? If the race had been a bit longer they would have surely been lapped! And as for the Maclarens, I don't know why they even bothered turning up. I didn't buy all that rubbish about the tyres either. Surely if the Bridgestones had a big advantage over the Michelins then the Saubers would have done a lot better. The other teams had better sort themselves out or this season is going to be very boring.

Jamie,

So what do you do? sounds like a pretty nice job to me. Perhaps you can tell us why the Mclarens so pants at the moment! We rely on Mclaren and Williams to give Ferrari a run for their money, but after Sundays performance it appears no one can challenge them. Incidently Ferrari have cancelled an extensive mid week testing session. Why? because there's no point, they know the other teams can't touch them.

Also just heard that Ralf is about to sign for renault for 2005 season.  

To be honest I think the other teams are going to struggle against Ferrari as long as they have Michael Schumacker. Whether you love him or hate him, he is by far and away the best driver out there and I think that the success Ferrari have had over the last few years has been down to him.  

[edit] edited to narrow page from being 7 foot wide [/edit]

seems like this season is becoming a victory parade for Ferrari's winning ways....these people really have to sort themselves out.

and, how did this thread get so wide?

Well.. the FW26 looked much better under JPM.. not sure about RS though - looked pretty lack lustre right up to the failure.. shame the track temp didn't stay hotter and those Michelins might have clawed in the Bridgestones a tad better - perhaps old Frank shoudl switch to Toyo

Real shame for Webber - he's starting to makea real impact as we thought he might... it's also great to see MS still into his driving and winning... he looked seriously over-joyed today.. good on him.

Great stuff for Button - Jacques who? - go get 'em boy.. JB's dad is a bit of a rogue isn't he..? as to DC moaning - well he is the second most experienced driver out there behind MS and has some insight into things one would say.. MS doesn't need to complain - old Ross and Jead Todd do that for him.. I think DC was the first driver to congrat' Button on camera.. it was solid drive by DC. Webber's poor start ultimately helped Button & JPM - otherwise both Ferrari's may have got away with RB pulling behind MS into turn 1.  Had MW sat in third then a quick gap wil undoubtedly have emerged..

It's easy to forget how good DC can be.. he has real skills - particuarly in the wet. Unfortunately the quick pratice/qualifying means that it takes DC almost a dozen laps in a race to get his line sorted out and then he stars to post quickest sectors.. unfortunately he then only has a narrow window before the tyres start to leave him.. The McLaren def needs sorting out and i's unfair to put this all on DC & Kimi. If I recall rightly - DC's actual race performance last season were actually solid - it was his grid position that let him down. DC may be off-form and will take time to adjust - it's hard for a lead driver to have to give way to a new upstart, who happens to be run the ragged & getting the points..

DC has always been about averages.. so was Damien but we supported him because he won. DC's style isn't much different & I'm sure he could match his old F3000 rival RB anytime on a level playing field... don't get me wrong - I think RB is great but he's only truly fast on a small number of the circuits on the calendar - Silverstone being one of them. RB is top 5.. yes but JPM is has better potential. JPM is the only driver that I knwo has really scared MS since his debue... probabaly only MS, JPM and Alonso have that 'edge' required... Button may have it but it's going to take time for him to push that extra 10% along with BAR.

Much more enjoyable than Australia... looking forward to JPM and FW26 shaping up. Webber for Williams in 2005 - I'm almost hoping BAR let Button down so we see a Buttom/Webber Williams line up in 2005.. I hope Frank doesn't try something too racial such as bring in Rosberg or Picquet junior in...? Frank often brings out new talent but rarely hangs onto them for long - instead he needs a storng hand.

Does anyone have the sector splits for JPM? Where was he slow/quick?

MB

Yes - But untill MS is put under pressure we will not know the true pace of the Ferrari. after Australia they might be doing just enough to stay infront & avoid any rule changes to make "EXCITING " racing

I thought the race, like many others in the last 12 months, was predictable and tiring. there was very little race action, in terms of overtaking, etc.

The racing needs something to spice it up (properly) such as a pit-stop ban during the 2nd & 3rd quarters of a race (or altogether) or perhaps a surprise reverse grid.

From what I saw there was a lot of empty seats there. This seriously needs to be addressed to reverse the downward trend in viewing stats. This is the pinnacle of motorsport. It should feel like it, and not like the corporate monster it is becomming. I see better racing on my local track with teams racing in Formula Vee's.

Well, i thought the race was quite good, except for the first couple of plcaes. There was plenty of overtaking in the midfield and Button did great. BAR are going places this season.

M blur you are obvisously a DC fan. Never mind!!

Sure a lot of people think F1 is boring, and to some extent with ferrari's dominance it has become a little predictable over the last few years. This is not Ferrari's fault. It's up to the other teams to keep up.

To be honest at the moment the sport would benefit from MS retiring, IMHO him and Ferrari are just too strong, just look at how much better he did than Barrichello this time round. 

To say that touring cars is better!! I stopped watching it when vauxhall started entering two teams.

I correct myself. Jenson Button provided a bit of overtaking entertainment whilst moving up the field.

DC fan..? possibly - aside from being a once-Scot - he's carried the British flag since Hill left the scene.. he is a good driver but seems to have lacked the killer instinct to push home. Doesn't mean he's not capable of being fast though.. sometimes I think he got to involved technically and this eventually led to him to driving technically spot-on but not as fast as he avoids the ragged edge.

I think he missed his window, which was probably 1999-2002 - he was every bit as good as Hill but his best coincided with Mika... now he seems to be to pressured by younger/more naturally gifted drivers.

Now I look forward to see whether JB can carry the pressure better than perhaps DC but let's not forget what he's accomplished so far.. okay not Mansell or Hill but cut from the same block as it were. We just need to be prepared to give Button some slack and not expect the same performance every race eventhough his early potential is now clearly justified.

The whole eurocars era was a great time.. does anyone have any pics they would like to post.

Love the V8 suprcars - just wish there was more diversity - one of the reasons I like the UK GT championship..

An excursion to Goodwood sounds in order.. how about we arrange a contingent to go to the festival..?

215DMX wrote: a (racing) + b (fun) X y (edge of seat) = Superbikes & Moto GP a (racing) - b (fun) X e (sleep) = F1

true but
(a (racing) - b (fun) X e (sleep)) ¸  w(3 month old watching F1) = pq(peace & quiet)

Tsk tsk Killian

Sitting him in front of the telly already.

It only gets worse mate, you wait until he can move.

Your doomed man, doomed

Perhaps we should have a dedicated F1/Motorsport forum.. what do you think?

Dunc.. an idea?

I hope to start some sort of discussion board on all types of Motorport (inc. F1) on my new site.. http://www.4to60.com - www.4to60.com

Hope you'll pop by & say hello from time to time.

Best

Jonny

We would end up with hundreds of forums !

Even the "model" boys want one