BAR's recent success

[daan]

Jenson has so far got 2 podiums from the first 3 and and now he has got pole position in the 4th race. What do you think is the reason for BAR's recent success.

Was Jaques Villenuve former wage packet put to better use? Or did he do all the hard work and Jenson is just reaping the rewards? Or is it just Honda have finally got their act together.

 

[DRIFT4EVA]

A and C. Go the Red, White and Green. Oh and Go the Red. If the BAR drivers could push earlier in the race, then they could give those Red monsters a run for their money.

 

[Race Idiot]

I think it's both Jenson and the BAR team both taking a step up, well allong with Honda. Their race pace still isn't that good though, well it's better than McLaren at the moment, but recently they've been getting worse and worse.

I doubt he'll win the race, he might hold up Mike at the start though.

 

[DRIFT4EVA]

Originally posted by Race Idiot

I think it's both Jenson and the BAR team both taking a step up, well allong with Honda. Their race pace still isn't that good though, well it's better than McLaren at the moment, but recently they've been getting worse and worse.

I doubt he'll win the race, he might hold up Mike at the start though.

Everyone is doing better than McLaren. They don't even make it to the end of a race.

 

[Race Idiot]

Kimmi must be kicking himself after that qualifying session, he did the warmup lap, then pulled in because his team looked at the telemetry and diagnosed a dying engine. Or I think that's because they knew that it was going to fail before he did the lap then did the outlap just to scrub up the tyres.

 

[DRIFT4EVA]

Originally posted by Race Idiot

Kimmi must be kicking himself after that qualifying session, he did the warmup lap, then pulled in because his team looked at the telemetry and diagnosed a dying engine.

Again Looks like he'll be starting another 10 places back. omg that's funny. The million dollar question....... Will Kimi finish a race this season?

 

[Matrixhasu77]

Well, I'd say it has to do with good off-season testing and switching to Michelin over Bridgestone(Actually, the announcers on speed mentioned this). That's help them in the long run.

I kind of wish I had made a second team in Fantasy F1 centered around BAR because they are doing fantastic so far.

I for one hope they can keep it up as it puts some excitement into the season. The question is though, can Jenson actually take advantage of his success or fail like webber did(I certainly hope not) for this weekend's race?

 

[millencolin]

Originally posted by Race Idiot

Their race pace still isn't that good though, well it's better than McLaren at the moment

Jags race pace is better than Mclaren (GO JAGUAR). but seriously, what a shock it was to open this mornings paper to read that jenson button is on pole. how extraordinary. what a season for qualifying, first webber gets a front row start, now this. now, the races need to be as enteraining as the qualifying and F1 is set

 

[3rdgenracerX]

I have to say its Honda, they are putting down a very poweful engine. I think one of the BAR cars will be on the podium tommorow, who knows they could pulloff a clean sweep and win the race

 

[scuderia229]

My wife and I were discussing this very issue over coffe after qualifying this morning. Our conclusion. The best thing that ever happened for BAR was canning JV. Look at the team now, look at the guys in the garage, look how happy everyone is to do well, look how energized people are to get the cars out and flying. JV divided the team and in general with his crappy attitude and insane demands brought the entire team down and divided what was left. JV was utterly useless.

Now that the team gelled AS SOON as JV was gone at the japanese GP last season and over the winter...Honda seems to be energized to actually try now.

Put both together and I think you have the best Michelin team on the grid.

Now....I want to see what happens when BAR has a bad weekend. When both cars are off pace and they maybe have mechanical issues. if they can come back at the next GP and put that behind them and move on and show great form again you have THE non Ferrari team to watch and a new top three (Ferrari, BAR, Williams). If they let that drag their momentum down and go back to their old fomr wellllll.......

I think they can handle it....Iproud to see my boys doing so well.

oh and I am glad JV is gone.

Can you IMAGINE how BAD Toyota will be next season if they hire Ralphie-Boy AND JV. Both are VERY under talented dividing figures....it will be an entertaining and pathetic mess.

 

[DRIFT4EVA]

Originally posted by scuderia229
My wife and I were discussing this very issue over coffe after qualifying this morning. Our conclusion. The best thing that ever happened for BAR was canning JV. Look at the team now, look at the guys in the garage, look how happy everyone is to do well, look how energized people are to get the cars out and flying. JV divided the team and in general with his crappy attitude and insane demands brought the entire team down and divided what was left. JV was utterly useless.

Now that the team gelled AS SOON as JV was gone at the japanese GP last season and over the winter...Honda seems to be energized to actually try now.

Put both together and I think you have the best Michelin team on the grid.

Now....I want to see what happens when BAR has a bad weekend. When both cars are off pace and they maybe have mechanical issues. if they can come back at the next GP and put that behind them and move on and show great form again you have THE non Ferrari team to watch and a new top three (Ferrari, BAR, Williams). If they let that drag their momentum down and go back to their old fomr wellllll.......

I think they can handle it....Iproud to see my boys doing so well.

oh and I am glad JV is gone.

Can you IMAGINE how BAD Toyota will be next season if they hire Ralphie-Boy AND JV. Both are VERY under talented dividing figures....it will be an entertaining and pathetic mess.

Cool. You have a wife that talks about motorsport. Once JV left, BAR has looked alot better

 

[scuderia229]

Originally posted by DRIFT4EVA
Cool. You have a wife that talks about motorsport. Once JV left, BAR has looked alot better

She is just into F1..... :-)

 

[DRIFT4EVA]

Atleast she likes some motorsport. 👍

 

[Bollocks#999]

It could be a combination of all 3 IMO, JV did work bloody to try and improve the car, now that he's gone BAR are able to put his huge retainer to better use and its about time that Honda lifted their game also

Just dont forget the contribution of the tyres here fellas, the BAR was quite rapid last year, it just happened that it was hampered by the Bridgstones they were running with

JV would have to be kicking himself right now that he didnt accept a pay decrease, I bet he wishes he was still there

 

[scuderia229]

Originally posted by Bollocks#999
It could be a combination of all 3 IMO, JV did work bloody to try and improve the car, now that he's gone BAR are able to put his huge retainer to better use and its about time that Honda lifted their game also

Just dont forget the contribution of the tyres here fellas, the BAR was quite rapid last year, it just happened that it was hampered by the Bridgstones they were running with

JV would have to be kicking himself right now that he didnt accept a pay decrease, I bet he wishes he was still there

If JV was still at BAR I doubt they would be anywhere different than they were in 2003, in fact they might be down there with Toyota and McLaren.....

 

[vat_man]

There's clearly a number of factors propelling them here.

I think the relationship between BAR and Honda is really starting to gel.

The team has shed Villenueve, freeing up cash and taking a negative element out of the team.

Dave Richards now has full control of BAR, and his managerial expertise is starting to shine.

Jenson Button, as shown with four straight points finishe, and three straight podiums sin the first four GPs this year, is clearly coming of age and is much more confident. The team clearly believes in him (much like the Webber effect at Jaguar) and is prepared to work its collective backside off to put the best possible car under him.

Apart from Villenueve's departure, the driving staff has actually been pretty stable in the last year, providing a more consistent basis for testing. Sato is still very new but is getting there, and was unlucky to miss out on points again last night.

So - it's a lot of things - and the team is talking smart, saying that they realise that they need to make a quantum leap to start winning races consistently.

...but they certainly made the other two 'pillars' of F1 Dominance look pretty silly last night...

 

[DRIFT4EVA]

2nd. Could of had first. BAR are really stepping up to the plate with alot of tenacity to do well. Very good to see.

See Button take off in the first few laps?

 

[GT3mich]

I think you can thank Geoffrey Willis, Technical Director for the teams success. He came over from Williams in 2001.

 

[Rue]

Originally posted by Matrixhasu77
the announcers on speed mentioned this

Wow! Those F1 commentators where you are sure know how to party. Maybe the commentators on Star Sports should give it a try!

EDIT: Sorry, yes I think Villeneuve's absence from the team is no coincidence to BAR's reversed fortunes.

 

[Bollocks#999]

no coincedence?!? by having two cheaper (and less tempremental) drivers now, just look where they can place those extra millions

 

[Rue]

Eh? What are you saying? I'm saying what you are. That the fact that they got rid of Villeneuve is the reason why they are doing well now.

 

[Eagle]

Originally posted by scuderia229
Look at the team now, look at the guys in the garage, look how happy everyone is to do well, look how energized people are to get the cars out and flying.

Nail on head. They've begun to believe. Every other team is busy sorting out what they're doing next year. Ferrari and BAR are the only teams relaxed and focusing on the tasks at hand, and the results reflect that.

I don't think JV made that large a contribution to the car, moreover he directed development where he felt it should go, and if that's contrary to the designers view it's going to be hard to implement. Button and BAR are just working with so much synergy atm.

 

[Blake]

I agree, the team has really put there head down and they know where they want to go. This season is looking good for them and hopefully they can get some serious points down so I don't have to wipe my memory of this season like i did '02.

 

[Eagle]

I don't know why everyone bashes 2002 so much. I thought it was a great season. It had wheel to wheel racing, sensationally close finishes, what more could you want?

 

[DRIFT4EVA]

Originally posted by Eagle
I don't know why everyone bashes 2002 so much. I thought it was a great season. It had wheel to wheel racing, sensationally close finishes, what more could you want?

I'm pretty sure that the '02 season was a Ferrari white-wash. As much as I love Ferrari, I don't like seeing that.

 

[Eagle]

They only won 15 of the 17 races! And Schumacher only finished on the podium 17 times... In terms of team domination 1988 was actually worse, but the intrateam competition infinitely better.

 

[Blake]

'02 sucked! I haven't been following F1 for all that long but '02 really set me back a bit from the sport, last year made me more interested and this year I'm upset with the results.

 

[Eagle]

Last year was so random and nailbitingly exciting at times, so varied. This year is "Oh, so Ferrari are 2 seconds a lap quicker here huh? That's nice" so far. Why can't it rain more or something? I know that'll only benefit Bridgestone more (well, it used to, whether Michelin have caught up few people know...) but rain always makes things more interesting at least.

 

[Blake]

Racing in the rain may be interesting but I don't think it will deter Micheal. I just wish some other teams could keep up with Ferrari!