F1 2008

[99Flake]

Well it is nearly here, 2 weeks today and the first race of the season in Melbourne will be over.

So I was wondering, who will be watching and what do people predict for the forthcoming season? Personally I think it will be a very interesting one with the traction control ban and some interesting results from testing.

Looks like it will once again be Ferrari and Mclaren up the front and Heiki looks to be a good match for Lewis. More interestingly though is the Williams which (in testing) has been consistantly 3rd fastest and even capable of breaking up the silver and red cars at the front. I really hope this transforms to race pace as I am a huge Williams fan.

As for the rest? Well it seems that Renault don't seem to have found any extra pace over the winter, BMW 'seem' to have taken a bit of a step back, Red Bull look fast AND reliable and they could be a real surprise package. Torro Rosso seem to be making good progress as do (surprisingly) Force India. I think the midfield will even tighter than last year with certain cars suiting different tracks and points being lost or gained dependant on that.

It seems that is the japanese squads that are in the mire though, Toyota only seemed to shine on a low fuel run and Honda seem to be still stuck at the back of the grid (why did Jenson not go to Williams)?

As for Super Aguri? Will well they actually turn up to Melbourne? I do hope so for Anthony Davidson's sake.

Prediction:

McLaren
Ferrari
Williams
Red Bull Racing
BMW
Renault
Torro Rosso
Toyota
Honda
Force India
Super Aguri (If they turn up)

[Tumble]

I don't think Williams have ever forgiven Jensen for that time he spun off into the barriers on the parade lap at Monza.....

[kalniel]

Do you think the lack of traction control is going to have any effect?

I reckon the top teams will have just found a way around the system to a limited extent.

Ferrari look terrifyingly fast if you ask me.. I only wonder with something that fast whether it will be a) reliable or b) consistant at all tracks/conditions.

Mclaren look to have some amazing mechanical grip - aerodynamically I think they're behind Ferrari by some way, but then aero is something that changes rapidly through the course of a season while mechanics is harder to crib. So in a way I think Ferrari will start faster but Mclaren have more scope to catch up and exceed over the course of the season.

Too close to call between the two overall, but I think Kimi will get a second title this time around - the competition between Lewis and Heikki will probably harm either of them. I think Lewis will start the stronger in races, while Heikki will probably come on stronger in the second half of the season.. I reckon he'll be faster in qualifying more often than not as well.

BMW have done a bit of a mini-Honda and been too ambitious.. but it might pay off if they can get a handle on it. Towards mid-season I think they'll have pulled clear of Renault et al.

Renault.. if they cheat they might catch up with BMW at the start of the season.

Williams - nice step forward but I don't think it's quite the leap shown in testing - suspect they will be hovering on the tails of Renault if the latter don't cheat.

RBR - hard to tell what the car is really like with the current drivers - Coulthard can't qualify and Webber breaks cars!

TR - don't know - slow at start then move a chink higher with the new car... but they failed last year with the right equipment so who knows?

Toyota - once more they've produced an odd car that only shines in some circumstances - they'll probably get podiums in one race and come near last in the others.

Force India - continuing the good work from spyker. Don't think they'll be a major suprise, but they have a great set of wet weather drivers!

Honda - oh dear. Unless they are sandbagging (something I doubt would be acceptable to them) then they are stuffed. Only Super Aguri will be worse IMO.

Predictions:

Ferrari
=Mclaren (!! I know, they can't draw, but it's too close!)
BMW
Renault
Williams
RBR
Force India
Toyota
Torro Rosso
Honda
Super Aguri

[Mossy]

I can not wiat to this season been missing this...

[this_is_gav]

So I was wondering, who will be watching and what do people predict for the forthcoming season? Personally I think it will be a very interesting one with the traction control ban and some interesting results from testing.

To be honest, they've been struggling more under braking than under acceleration - the uniform engine management system has removed the ability to dynamically control engine braking. Looking a lot tastier than for a good few years.

I don't think Williams have ever forgiven Jensen for that time he spun off into the barriers on the parade lap at Monza.....

It was under the safety car in 2001, lap 10 or something just before they came back to the green. The race when de la Rosa took a flying barrel-roll over 3 cars. Last fatalily in F1 when a marshal was struck from a flying wheel from one of the Jordans.

I'm pretty much agreeing with Kalniel. I was predicting we could see a repeat of 2002 with Ferrari capable of winning ever race, but McLaren look to have clawed back a good chunk of time. Ferrari still look stronger to me, and I feel McLaren will lose a bit of direction over the year without any real figurehead. It's Kimi's to lose already in my opinion.

Williams have been sensational in testing. It was pretty apparent around September last year (Rosberg talking about the designs) that they had something pretty special, but I don't think anyone expected them to go anywhere other than solidly in the points. As things stand they do appear to be 3rd fastest. If Rosberg can have half as good a year as 2007 they're looking strong. Feel Nakajima is going to be a somewhat obvious weak link.

RBR seem to have lost a little direction over the last couple of weeks, but they're still looking around the pace of BMW and Renault.

Force India have easily been the shock of testing, even considering Williams. Fisi and Sutil have been on fire. They're looking good.

Honda on the other hand aren't. To mess up 2 consecutive cars is 1 thing, but to make a horrible 2007 car worse really is some achievement. All Honda final 2 rows.

[kalniel]

Out of interest, here is last years thread:

http://forums.hexus.net/general-disc...f1-2007-a.html

I think this_is_gav had the closest predictions that time around!

EDIT: just had a thought - anyone fancy going into a fantasy F1 thingy? The Virgin one looks quite good (free, couple of nice prizes which us amateurs aren't likely to get).

EDIT2: I've just created a mini-league in the above called Hexus Sheds - pm me for the password if you want to join.

[99Flake]

I'm up for that, PM sent

[this_is_gav]

I think this_is_gav had the closest predictions that time around!

Not bad all considered, but I totally cocked up the Hamilton/Alonso prediction.