Will the racing be better in 05?

[jenson09]

Well.....
there you go, will it be better in 05? Im not so sure. Yes there may be more winners BUT will there be more passing ec or is it down to pitstops, tyre wear and other things the more casual spectator doesnt care about. And dont get me started on the 'new' qualy system!!!

 

[Blake]

Better Championship battle, probably worse racing.

Blake

 

[Tobes]

I think the racing will be much closer, the 25% reduction in aero will lead to the cars being more stable when drafting another car, but as most drivers have already said, the cars are far more 'twitchy', i'd imagine the hard compound tyres have a part to play in that too.
Also, i don't believe for a moment that McLaren and Williams will make the same mistakes as they did last year, the Williams 'tusk' and the McLaren 'anteater' nose were simply not any good, both teams real pace only emerged at the end of the season with the revised cars.

I'm hoping Ferrari still win both titles, but i think it's going to be close, i wouldn't bet my house on a Ferrari WDC/WCC win this year.

Not long now 'till Melbourne.......

 

[kensei]

I'm actually very excited about this upcoming season. For many reasons. At first I thought the no tire change rule was bad but then I thought about it and really like the idea. Personally I got sick of races being lost/won in the pits and this should almost end that. I've enjoyed the tire battle over the past few seasons but I am glad for the change.

I like the qualifying change. I don't care about the race day morning session much, though as a spectator I like it but by adding the two session together it gives them both a point. It's about damn time the FIA did that.

I'm also excited to see the results of winter testing and to see Ferrari NOT on top. McLaren is the team to beat this year, the best driver lineup and the best car (engine, who knows?). Renault look strong too and I expect Fisi to do well. Alonso I don't think much of. I think Toyota will be a surprise this season. Probably not winning but maybe a few podiums...and probably over 5th in the constructors. BAR, yawn...not expecting much from them now that the other teams havent dropped the ball. I bet you'll see them up there a few times though. Williams, well again yawn. They got two good drivers this season but they jsut seem to have lost their spark. Though after the past few seasons they need to rebuild and regroup. Ferrari. You'd be stupid to write them off but I jsut don't see them being as strong. No doubt they will always be up there but it won't be a cake walk like in years past. Plus we haven't seen their "new" car yet either. Once that is out one can make the final call on their season. Sauber, Massa has looked good and the car looks ok. I expect a middle of the pack season as always. I don't expect much from JV, maybe he can do better than his "impressive" Renault comeback. Red Bull, glad to see DC there, they got the money...time will tell. Jordon, Minardi...will they ever matter?

 

[Blake]

I am really glad to see McLaren on top, I think they will be the team to beat in the first few races, hopefully it will give them the edge they need to be really competitive throughout the season. Williams have really dissapointed me, they seem to think they'll be on par by the European rounds but unfortunatly I am not quite convinced...I was hoping to see great things from them. Ferrari, I think they are ebing incredibly stupid or incredibly clever this season, my guts says stupid but knowing Ferrari it may turn out to be the latter. Fisi may be up their with Renault, but much like you, Kensei, I don't think much of Alonso. BAR seem to have lost their spark but I won't count them out of being semi-competitive yet. Sauber, well maybe up a few next year when they disassociate from Ferrari entirely, but I don't see any huge improvements this season. Red Bull, maybe able to challenge Sauber but somehow I don't see them doing any better than that. Toyota, now this should be interesting, I hoping we may see them take a big step, I doubt wins but I think we may just see their first podium. Jordan and Minardi, pffft, they'll finish 9th and 10th respectively.

Blake

 

[kensei]

Ferrari, I think they are ebing incredibly stupid or incredibly clever this season, my guts says stupid but knowing Ferrari it may turn out to be the latter.

Blake

Never ever count Ferrari out. Ever.

I say this in the least jaded way (I do like Ferrari)...but if they can't win on the track they will take it to the courts and/or the press.

Fisi may be up their with Renault, but much like you, Kensei, I don't think much of Alonso.

Blake

See Alonso is a good driver but I just don't think he has the mental capabilities to be a top driver. He cracks under pressure and makes stupid mistakes. he lets things get to him and when they aren't going well he falls apart. Maybe it is maturity he needs or just seat time. Or maybe, and I tend to think more this direction, he isn't the swiftest guy in the paddock and nothing can help him.

BAR seem to have lost their spark but I won't count them out of being semi-competitive yet.

Blake

I agree. Last year was a fluke for BAR. Mostly due to the other teams dropping the ball. No doubt BAR upped their game ALOT last season but I don't see another jump like that this season. I see the constructors finishing like this;

McLaren (If the Merc engine actually works and isn't typical modern Merc workmanship, this is the ONLY chink in McLaren's armour this season IMO, we will know after the first three races)
Renault
Ferrari

(all fighting for the top three spots)

Williams
BAR
Toyota (MAYBE, lets see their race pace)

(fighting for the next spots)

Toyota (if their race pace is off)
Sauber

Red Bull (no one to fight with above or below)

Jordon
Minardi

(as always)

 

[vipersan]

Well, apart from first places on races in 2004, the racing itself was one of the best seasons ever. Just look at changes on places from 2-8 on all races in 2004. I don't think, it was bad racing in 2004 (and I'm not alone in that opinion). The only problem for spectators was the same winner. And those, who blame Ferrari for their winning should think a bit, where Ferrari was more than 7 years ago. Nowhere. They've been working hard to get on top and still are working to stay there. I think, that other teams just haven't been working that hard and are loosing motivation. I hope that in 2005 we will see more different winners and at least same level of racing as in 2004. That would make the season good.

 

[Tobes]

I am really glad to see McLaren on top

[23/02/05 - 18:41]

Schumacher fastest in the rain
Valencia - Wednesday - Testing

Ferrari set the pace today on a wet Valencia circuit. The two Bridgestone-equipped F2004 M finished at the top of the time sheets, Michael Schumacher significantly faster than his team-mate Rubens Barrichello, who completed only 14 laps in total.

Behind the Ferrari drivers is the McLaren MP4-19B of Pedro de la Rosa and the Williams FW27 of Nick Heidfeld, both cars on Michelin tyres.

Jenson Button, Ralf Schumacher and Alex Wurz covered a few laps, without any official lap times.

Valencia - 23/02/05
1. M. Schumacher - Ferrari F2004M - 1'21"766 (+0"000) - 58 laps
2. R. Barrichello - Ferrari F2004M - 1'23"686 (+1"920) - 14 laps
3. P. de la Rosa - McLaren Mercedes MP4/19B - 1'24"309 (+2"543) - 18 laps
4. N. Heidfeld - BMW Williams FW27 - 1'26"582 (+4"816) - 61 laps

 

[kensei]

Gee, surprise a Bridgestone clad Ferrari on top in the wet with their two top drivers.....


From my memory of winter testing that is only the second time a Ferrari has been on top. Out of 20 or so session.

 

[Tobes]

Gee, surprise a Bridgestone clad Ferrari on top in the wet with their two top drivers.....


From my memory of winter testing that is only the second time a Ferrari has been on top. Out of 20 or so session.

Yeah, not sure what the situation is, also although the times say both drivers had the F2004M, the pics i've seen look like only Rubens was, it looks to me like Michael was driving the F2004...

Michael...

Rubens...

 

[Double_R]

Ok say you had to bet on who would come in 1st 2nd and 3rd in australia who would u say.

 

[vipersan]

Hmm I guess that one of the ferraris (of not both) will be on top. So I have to put MS on top. 2nd will probobly be Kimi Raikkonen and in third Alonso. All that if there is no major technical glitches

 

[kensei]

Ok say you had to bet on who would come in 1st 2nd and 3rd in australia who would u say.

I'd put money on Kimi , MS and either JPM, Fisi or Rubens...

1) Kimi
2) MS or JPM
3) JPM or Fisi....maybe Webber now that I think about it (I doubt the williams will be competitive, but Webber has been known to squeeze out all he can from a poor chassis before. I at least see him up ther ein qualifying, given it's his home event and he is ultra motivated with a semi decent car this season, well decent meaning better than a minardi or Jag.)

The big unknown is the Merc Engine, though in winter testing they didn't have that many issues.

 

[Tobes]

Ok say you had to bet on who would come in 1st 2nd and 3rd in australia who would u say.

As much as it pains me to say so, and it really, really does, i think the teams with new, (as opposed to revised) cars will win in Melbourne, not a Williams (as we know they're having problems) so either a McLaren or a Renault on the top step of the podium, if i had to choose i'd say Montoya, i think he'll adapt to the new regs better, i understand he's very good on cold tyres from his Cart days, that will be an advantage early in the season for him.
So that puts a Renault on the second step, i'll say Alonso, and i'll have Michael in third, got to have him on there somewhere.
This will all change by Spain when the F2005 comes out and it'll be business as usual for the Scuderia.

 

[Blake]

Ok say you had to bet on who would come in 1st 2nd and 3rd in australia who would u say.

1st. Kimi or JPM
2nd. Micheal or Fisi
3rd. Webber or Rubens

That is roughly what I can see happening, not that I think the Williams will be a great car, but Webber has put on plenty of good shows in cars that are't up to par, so I believe he can squeeze alot out of the FW27, BUT I won't count out mechanical problems for anyone other than Ferrari, but you never know.

Also in the rain testing Michael was using the F2004, not the M.

Blake

 

[sirlosealot]

Ok say you had to bet on who would come in 1st 2nd and 3rd in australia who would u say.

...

Barring any 'problems'...

1. Michael
2. Kimi
3. Rubens
4. (3rd if Kimi doesn't make it) Jenson.

Yes I think the racing will be 'closer' in 2005, purely because of the rule changes. But the team with the most consistency will generally prevail in the first quarter to third of the season - and which team has the most consistency?

How about a race predictions thread?

Mike

 

[[FPV]Rusty]

articles i have read here and there count out Webber, i dont think he can win, but not too long back he got 5th, in a frickin Minardi at Melbourne, besides a select few, I dont think theres that many drivers in the champion ship that can do that, i dont think he can win, & podium is outside chance but he'll be fighting for it barring technical diffucalties (read pizzonia sabotaging his car ),

 

[Blake]

I'm not counting Webber down and out, I know he can pull some stuff out of a hat but barring problems for other drivers I think he is limited to the 2nd step on the podium, I just don't see him outpacing everyone else at Melbourne. Williams say they'll have everything sorted by the European rounds but I think Webber has pretty poor odds until Williams can get their act together.

Blake

 

[jenson09]

.



Last year was a fluke for BAR. Mostly due to the other teams dropping the ball. No doubt BAR upped their game ALOT last season but I don't see another jump like that this season. I see the constructors finishing like this;

Hmm! I agree BAR's performance was aided by other teams dropping the ball but they were still getting podiums at the tail end of the year even when McLaren and Williams licked up their game. I admit, this season looks like its going to be tough but the last couple of tests have looked more promising and lets not forget, McLaren have had just as much engine troubles as Honda AND their unit probably isnt as powerful anyway. I think BAR could still spring a suprise at thetracks they were good at last year like Imola, Indy, Shanghai and Hockenhiem and Malaysia. If they can do really well at those circuits and just look for consistency I think theyll be ok.

 

[jenson09]

Ithink it'll be
Rubens (every other year the Ferrari has suited him best, its his turn!)
Juan Pablo,
Jense,
Michael,
Kimi,
Mark (because he does go well there)
Alonso (Renaults will be fast but unreliable)
Jarno
Nick H

Its hard to tell from testin though. Melbourne seems like a tough place to get a good set up for especially if the weathers bit dodgy. Anyone know what it's meant to do...thatll make a big difference to the predictions.