Prediction Melbourne.

[Pink_the_Floyd]

What's your prediction for the first race of the season?
You can't exactly say 'cause it's a new beginning with drivers at other teams and so on...

I think this maybe happen at Melbourne:

1.Montoya
2.Button
3.M.Schumacher
4.Raikkonen
5.Fisico
6.Webber
7.Alonso
8.Heidfeld
9.Villeneuve
10.Ralf Schumacher or Trulli.


It's really hard to say for the top ten because all the teams have improved much besides Jordan and Minardi (Red Bull Racing?)

I don't believe the RB1 will be that competitive for Coulthard to have a top ten spot.

Will be looking forward to next week 👍


Cheers,

 

[usernamed]

Guessing the grid right now is just impossible. The cars can still change a whole lot before Melbourne starts...
I just hope my Villeneuve doesnt do too bad

 

[[FPV]Rusty]

Button,M.Scumacher, Raikkonon, & Montoya best chance of winning, along with, heidfeld, webber, alonso & truli podium chances

 

[Pink_the_Floyd]

I don't think Williams will do good.They said that the team itself but I think we'll have to keep an eye for those Renaults because they have the car that is the best for Melbourne.Also I heard that Toyota will come with a whole new car.So curious 👍


Cheers,

 

[Double_R]

I hope toyota does well.

 

[jenson09]

Im a big BAR fan but I do think this will happen.
Rubens B
Juan Pablo M
Jenson B
Michael S
Kimi R
Fernando A
Mark W
Jarno T
Nick H

 

[Pink_the_Floyd]

I hope toyota does well.

Indeed 👍

 

[Blake]

Also I heard that Toyota will come with a whole new car.So curious 👍


Cheers,

It will just have alot more aerodynamic bits and pieces on it, more or less the same car though.

Blake

 

[Ev0]

I'm really hoping Renault and BAR can steal some wins from Ferrari in the first few races while Ferrari is still stuck with their modded 2004 car. I still think Schumacher is going to win Aus, but I would not be surprised if any of the BAR or Renault drivers win. I'm not counting out McLaren or Williams either. But no matter how the first race goes, I think it's going to be a very competitive season if you can completely ignore Ferrari.

And as for Toyota, I have a feeling they could be the surprise of the season. With a massive budget, a few years experience, and now two good drivers, I have a feeling this could be the year things start to go right for them. But, if they can't manage to beat Sauber (or at least compete with them), I think they just need to quit F1 immediately, because they are never going to get anywhere unless things start getting better really soon.

 

[Blake]

Plus the technical side of that team has some big names now too, like Gassy....They should do alot better this season, not to say they will.

Blake

 

[Pink_the_Floyd]

Just like they said in the beginning of 2004?

I don't know, maybe a battle with Williams or Sauber.


Cheers,

 

[Mclaren_Man]

It would be good to see Webber do well at the first race, but I think that he will have to work hard to even get a podium. Mclaren should be up there, but knowing their luck they'll probably blow up!

 

[jenson09]

Mclaren should be up there, but knowing their luck they'll probably blow up!

Yeah theyve not had a good time of late at Melbourne. I think DC's win there in 03 was the best result since, wot, 1998?
It does seem to show up their engine weaknesses which is strange coz its not exacly a major power circuit.

 

[Blake]

I think McLaren should be reasonably reliable this year, but I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Is anyone here going to the Aussie GP this weekend? I plan on going next year

Blake

 

[Blake]

Yeah theyve not had a good time of late at Melbourne. I think DC's win there in 03 was the best result since, wot, 1998?
It does seem to show up their engine weaknesses which is strange coz its not exacly a major power circuit.

Renault's engine engineer Remi Taffin previews the Melbourne circuit in Albert Park and the specific challenges it poses for a Formula One engine. "Melbourne is a tough circuit for engines: its succession of straights broken up by slow corners mean good torque is more important than peak power in order to accelerate out of the slow and medium-speed corners," he explains.

"The percentage of the lap spent at full throttle (64%), as well as the average engine speed over the lap, are high; combined with relatively cool temperatures (around 22°C) and high atmospheric pressures (around 1010 millibars), which mean the engine develops more power, this provides the moving parts of the engine with a tough test," he added. "Parts such as the pistons are under severe strain, and we look for the best possible cooling compromise to ease the stress on these components."

"During the race weekend, we focus on establishing cooling levels, but also on the detailed electronic work that is specific to each circuit: traction control settings, engine mapping to control pick-up and driveability, fuel consumption and gear ratios. In general, Fernando wants engine response to be as progressive as possible: his driving style sees him use the throttle gently in the first half of its travel, before applying full throttle very quickly afterwards and relying on the traction control."

"Our engine usage strategy for the weekend will also change in 2005. We will need to manage the engine's potential across two weekends: for example, the second race of the year is in Sepang, a less severe engine circuit than Melbourne. As such, we are likely to use 60% engine potential at the first race, and 40% at the second. This is a new phenomenon for 2005, and the first races will bring important lessons in how best to manage our engine potential across two race weekends."

Blake

 

[Mclaren_Man]

I think McLaren should be reasonably reliable this year, but I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Is anyone here going to the Aussie GP this weekend? I plan on going next year

Blake

I might be going next year as well. I've been in 2001,02,03 but my dad wants to go in the Brabham stand (first chicane) this time but it costs a lot of $$$. You can't understand the speed/sound of those cars untill you go to a race.

 

[SouL]

No one thinks Fisichella can do it? He seems to be the most confident out of all the drivers. The R25 is looking good. Stable back end with little tire wear throughout testing stints.

(I'm taking a stab at all the media exposure he's been receiving the last few days about his new found sense of confidence)

 

[vipersan]

Nop I don't think Fisico can do it.

I predict Schumacher on top . But I am a bit biased, since I am a Ferrari fan for many years now ...

 

[spooony]

I still think Schumacher will win the first GP but I think Renault will definitely give Ferarri a fight to the finish

 

[Blake]

I think Ferrari will only be challenging for podiums until they start racing the F2005. I think a McLaren will be first, a Renault 2nd, a Ferrari 3rd and a Williams 4th.

Blake

 

[wee_man]

It's really hard to say for the top ten because all the teams have improved much besides Jordan and Minardi (Red Bull Racing?)

I don't believe the RB1 will be that competitive for Coulthard to have a top ten spot.



Cheers,

bwhahahah, how you were soo wrong!

 

[darkfinal]

The predictions have changed a lot, huh?

I like how the race turned. Fisico - Barri - Alonso. Remembering the last Australian GP, it was red-red-red-blue (1st-constructor-2nd-3rd) and now is completely the inverse, blue-blue-red-blue 👍 👍