Ich bin ein Mod
does his make up in his room
All things considered, I'd rather see Villeneuve back than Hakkinen. At least Villeneuve adds a bit of spark and is more of a racer than Hakkinen
2004 F1 Championship
- Thread starter the B
- Start date
g force
Affects Shatner's Basoon
Pizz is clearly better than many people gave him credit - he was young when he raced for Jag (can anyone say Klien hasw done any better?). Maybe Williams have got a star in waiting.
Commentators have always said he's quick, so maybe a year of testing has made him hone his racing. There's no reason to think he isn't near the top of the list for the 05 drive.
I honestly think Hakk has been away too long to get on the pace. Williams needs to get its car on the pace over the winter and then have 2 drviers willing to take it to McLaren, Ferrari, BAR and Renault otherwise they may fall behind. JV may have made too many enemies to find a way back.
I'm still not sure about Webber...he seems like he can do it and has shown promise, but i've not seen much to suggest he's going to do as well as JPM.
Commentators have always said he's quick, so maybe a year of testing has made him hone his racing. There's no reason to think he isn't near the top of the list for the 05 drive.
I honestly think Hakk has been away too long to get on the pace. Williams needs to get its car on the pace over the winter and then have 2 drviers willing to take it to McLaren, Ferrari, BAR and Renault otherwise they may fall behind. JV may have made too many enemies to find a way back.
I'm still not sure about Webber...he seems like he can do it and has shown promise, but i've not seen much to suggest he's going to do as well as JPM.
g force
Affects Shatner's Basoon
A horrid thought has just occured to me...look at who's racign this year and where they could potentially qualify.....
....that's right heading into turn one we will could see a scrap between Sato, Pizzonia and Massa
I'm expecting plenty of stops for new front wings!
....that's right heading into turn one we will could see a scrap between Sato, Pizzonia and Massa
I'm expecting plenty of stops for new front wings!
More seriously...the FIA has announced some of the restrictions on cars in the future:
http://uk.sports.yahoo.com/040716/13/51lf.html
http://uk.sports.yahoo.com/040716/13/51lf.html
g force
Affects Shatner's Basoon
The engine idea is a good one IMO - should put things on a bit moer of a even keel. The tyres are also good.
I'm lost on the aero stuff - the front wing is higher, okay got that, rear wing check but what exactly can teams do, or not do with the bodywork immediately in front of the rear wheels? I assume it means and ent to all the various end plates etc to more of body work tapering past exhausts to the rear wing.
I'm lost on the aero stuff - the front wing is higher, okay got that, rear wing check but what exactly can teams do, or not do with the bodywork immediately in front of the rear wheels? I assume it means and ent to all the various end plates etc to more of body work tapering past exhausts to the rear wing.
g force
Affects Shatner's Basoon
13 more - nah won't happen, but it's putting off the inevitable!
According to this week's Austosport, Renault aren't likely to keep Trulli - they want Fisichella back. The only problem is his contract apparently stipulates he can only leave Sauber for Ferrari, Williams or McLaren next year. To get round this Flavio Briatore wants Williams to release Fisichella from his contract and immediately let him sign for Renault. In exchange, Williams as guaranteed of getting Webber (who I think we all assume is their #1 choice). However, If Williams take Fisichella, Briatore won't discuss any move whatsoever for Webber!
It sounds a bit unlikely but as a Fisichella fan I'd love to see him back at Renault - I can see that car progressing more next year than the Williams. Although frankly, either will be better than Sauber.
It also depresses me that an utter arse like Flavio can manage the drivers and be in charge of a team.
According to this week's Austosport, Renault aren't likely to keep Trulli - they want Fisichella back. The only problem is his contract apparently stipulates he can only leave Sauber for Ferrari, Williams or McLaren next year. To get round this Flavio Briatore wants Williams to release Fisichella from his contract and immediately let him sign for Renault. In exchange, Williams as guaranteed of getting Webber (who I think we all assume is their #1 choice). However, If Williams take Fisichella, Briatore won't discuss any move whatsoever for Webber!
It sounds a bit unlikely but as a Fisichella fan I'd love to see him back at Renault - I can see that car progressing more next year than the Williams. Although frankly, either will be better than Sauber.
It also depresses me that an utter arse like Flavio can manage the drivers and be in charge of a team.
Drivers next year: Ferrari will keep the same, McLaren will be Kimi and Montoya, BAR keep Button and Sato
Fisi is due for Renault with Alonso
Webber at Williams with Heidfeld
Coulthard at Jaguar
Trulli and Ralf at Toyota
Davidson getting a driver with Sauber
For this weekend: Michael Schumacher has the flu but is still racing...
Fisi is due for Renault with Alonso
Webber at Williams with Heidfeld
Coulthard at Jaguar
Trulli and Ralf at Toyota
Davidson getting a driver with Sauber
For this weekend: Michael Schumacher has the flu but is still racing...
Ich bin ein Mod
does his make up in his room
Ooh big off for Raikkonen, he's alright though thankfully. Rear wing failure.
But his drives are often unremarkable or depend on other people messing up rather than him actually doing some good work in the car.
And today, Button stuffed his start up and made getting second place exciting to watch but difficult for himself in many ways.
A good drive is something like a driver hanging on in wet conditions on dry tyres to be as fast or faster (like Rubens at the old Hockenheim in 2000) or a driver doing technically stunning laps over and over to develop enough of a lead or jump ahead (like Schumacher did at Silverstone or Mangy Cours or all sorts of places actually).
Today, Button got second because Alonso's car had a problem, Raikkonen fell off the track, Barrichello lost his front wing early on etc.
In some places he drove well, but otherwise in an unremarkable way.
I reckon while Kimi was driving, he was doing an excellent job keeping up with Michael.
And today, Button stuffed his start up and made getting second place exciting to watch but difficult for himself in many ways.
A good drive is something like a driver hanging on in wet conditions on dry tyres to be as fast or faster (like Rubens at the old Hockenheim in 2000) or a driver doing technically stunning laps over and over to develop enough of a lead or jump ahead (like Schumacher did at Silverstone or Mangy Cours or all sorts of places actually).
Today, Button got second because Alonso's car had a problem, Raikkonen fell off the track, Barrichello lost his front wing early on etc.
In some places he drove well, but otherwise in an unremarkable way.
I reckon while Kimi was driving, he was doing an excellent job keeping up with Michael.
Ich bin ein Mod
does his make up in his room
Yeah, but didn't Alonso's lack of speed occur after Button had passed him? Plus he was distracted by having to hold his helmet down!
Kimi was having a good race, the new Mclaren hooks up really well. Too little too late though.
Kimi was having a good race, the new Mclaren hooks up really well. Too little too late though.
Alonso was generally being slow...the gap to Michael wasn't moving much as he was coasting/nursing but the cars behind were catching pretty quick...
I don't think the helmet thing is that distracting for any reasonable driver. Many are used to one handed driving as they change certain characteristics of the car on the steering wheel during a lap like brake balance and he was doing it on the straights mostly when a driver isn't doing a whole lot.
I think Button was driving alright for some of the GP, but it wasn't an all round great drive. He made life difficult for himself by not making the pass on Alonso via the pits. Made it entertaining to watch but doesn't mean Button is a better driver in my opinion.
I don't think the helmet thing is that distracting for any reasonable driver. Many are used to one handed driving as they change certain characteristics of the car on the steering wheel during a lap like brake balance and he was doing it on the straights mostly when a driver isn't doing a whole lot.
I think Button was driving alright for some of the GP, but it wasn't an all round great drive. He made life difficult for himself by not making the pass on Alonso via the pits. Made it entertaining to watch but doesn't mean Button is a better driver in my opinion.
There seem to be lots of stories around about how Button could have won...even though his fastest lap wasn't that competitive and he was driving hard for most of the race. He set a 1'14"117
Kimi and Michael did 1'13"780 and 1'13"783. Michael may have gone on to set faster times if Kimi had been around to push him.
The really shocking thing is that the Toyota B spec is fast.
Panis was the fourth fastest driver with a 1'14"247
Rubens Barrichello has said the first lap shunt that ruined his GP was his fault. Not often you hear racing drivers own up to things...
Kimi and Michael did 1'13"780 and 1'13"783. Michael may have gone on to set faster times if Kimi had been around to push him.
The really shocking thing is that the Toyota B spec is fast.
Panis was the fourth fastest driver with a 1'14"247
Rubens Barrichello has said the first lap shunt that ruined his GP was his fault. Not often you hear racing drivers own up to things...
Ok B I get what u'r saying about good drives now and you are correct Jenson hasn't really had one of those yet, but u've got to cut the guy a little more slack. He had a good start and was actually behind sato but got caught up in the barchello incident and dropped right back to 12th or 13th but he fought his way back. And he didn't pass Alonso in the pits but im sure he overtook him on the road before Alonso's gremlins kicked in.
Alonso's gremlins were there for ages - at one point Montoya was half a minute behind Alonso and Button. He was quickly less than 10 seconds behind. With reference to Montoya, Button is pretty lucky he fell off the track and let him through...
Anyway, while defensive driving may account for some of the way Montoya caught up as the GP went on, it shouldn't have amounted to as much as it did considering they were generally edging away from him before Alonso had his front wing problem and Button pressuring him.
Button's start was fairly poor, he lost a place because he outbraked himself and went off the track - only lost a place for it but you'd of expected him to do actually make some ground off the start considering he had two Jaguars in front of him.
I doubt he got caught up in the Barrichello incident - Coulthard lost a small piece of bodywork, Barrichello obviously lost his wing and Montoya (who had a terrible start) had to slow right down to avoid running over the wing. Webber and all the cars would have followed the racing line and got through just fine...
He did drive well in a fairly large part of the grand prix to make up the ground he did - but he really should have just leaped Alonso on second or the third pit stop period. He managed to make up for it (in the end) by passing him but he previously had upto 5 laps of low fuel running and clear track to get ahead of Alonso before the pit stops and come out ahead.
It was a decent drive but not spectacular or indicative of a real racing great in my opinion.
Anyway, while defensive driving may account for some of the way Montoya caught up as the GP went on, it shouldn't have amounted to as much as it did considering they were generally edging away from him before Alonso had his front wing problem and Button pressuring him.
Button's start was fairly poor, he lost a place because he outbraked himself and went off the track - only lost a place for it but you'd of expected him to do actually make some ground off the start considering he had two Jaguars in front of him.
I doubt he got caught up in the Barrichello incident - Coulthard lost a small piece of bodywork, Barrichello obviously lost his wing and Montoya (who had a terrible start) had to slow right down to avoid running over the wing. Webber and all the cars would have followed the racing line and got through just fine...
He did drive well in a fairly large part of the grand prix to make up the ground he did - but he really should have just leaped Alonso on second or the third pit stop period. He managed to make up for it (in the end) by passing him but he previously had upto 5 laps of low fuel running and clear track to get ahead of Alonso before the pit stops and come out ahead.
It was a decent drive but not spectacular or indicative of a real racing great in my opinion.
thelittlechef
Ale Drinker
I disagree - I think it was without doubt a very good drive. I'm sure Schu could have done it better, but then he is (and it pains me to say it because I wish he wasn't!) a breed apart from all the other drivers. IMHO Button is good, very good and deserves a world championship - although I can't see it happening until Schu retires or Ferrari are forced to use square wheels...
thelittlechef
Ale Drinker
I loved Webbers cheeky move following Button through at the hairpin. I am really looking forward to seeing how he performs (especially in qualifying) when he has a competative car underneath him.
Ich bin ein Mod
does his make up in his room
Not sure Button's done enough to deserve a world championship really. And Webber has underperformed, his best result is still his 5th place in the Minardi
g force
Affects Shatner's Basoon
Good GP again - nice to see some overtaking for a change.
Very impressed by the B spec Toyota - Ralf and Trulli may have a decent car after all! I'm unusre about Webber - plenty of talk of how great he is but next year we will see if he lives up to the hype - i'd expect regular podiums TBH and at least 5 in the drivers championship.
The Jag is awful but he's under no pressure to perform - at Williams he will be expected to perfrom every week, so then we'll see what he's made of.
All this talk of driver changes has begun to really piss me off - in particular hiow someone like Biratore can control a team and manage 4 drivers (out of 20 FFS!). I think there shoudl be a rule introduced to stop owners managing drivers because frankly, the treatment of Trulli stinks.
Edit - explanation: apparently he had to sign a new management contract with Flavio in order to stay on at Renault
Seems like it will be Fisi and Alonso at Renault and Webber and Heidfeld at Willaims
Very impressed by the B spec Toyota - Ralf and Trulli may have a decent car after all! I'm unusre about Webber - plenty of talk of how great he is but next year we will see if he lives up to the hype - i'd expect regular podiums TBH and at least 5 in the drivers championship.
The Jag is awful but he's under no pressure to perform - at Williams he will be expected to perfrom every week, so then we'll see what he's made of.
All this talk of driver changes has begun to really piss me off - in particular hiow someone like Biratore can control a team and manage 4 drivers (out of 20 FFS!). I think there shoudl be a rule introduced to stop owners managing drivers because frankly, the treatment of Trulli stinks.
Edit - explanation: apparently he had to sign a new management contract with Flavio in order to stay on at Renault
Seems like it will be Fisi and Alonso at Renault and Webber and Heidfeld at Willaims
Ich bin ein Mod
does his make up in his room
Its still better than the Minardithe B said:
