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I want somewhere to stick my thoughts on the Formula 1 season as it progresses so I'm going to do that here. Feel free to join me if you want.
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I can't say that I notice it but then I do enjoy the racing far more than the silly season. It's something that fits inbetween races for me.
Don't you find that at this time of year the questions about who is going to be or being signed up for which team overshadow the races?
Ok, so this year we've got the great rivalry between the McLaren drivers, but still the talk of drivers moving becomes the only sound you hear...
Ok, so this year we've got the great rivalry between the McLaren drivers, but still the talk of drivers moving becomes the only sound you hear...
And, as I think I predicted, Bourdais signs with Toro Rosso and he'll partner Vettel in 2008. Now that will be an interesting competition. Bourdais, 3 times (possibly 4) Champ Car Champion, against Vettel, up and coming driver.
McLaren have put a lot into Hamilton's development and I'm sure it would take a lot for McLaren to accept a buyout. I've seen stranger moves though. Frentzen replacing the then World Champion at Williams, Damon Hill, is one that comes to mind.
That driver you're thinking of is probably Gary Paffett. I think, given a choice, Alonso would stick to his contract but it comes down to whether Alonso can live with McLaren's 'no number 1 driver' policy and Hamilton.
I think there is definitely a Renault seat up for grabs because Fisichella has been looking more and more useless next to Kovalainen. It's getting less and less likely, in my opinion, that BMW would look outside their organisation for a driver. Heidfeld for another season and then Vettel with Kubica. Ferrari will keep Raikkonen and Massa, although questioned in Ferrari at the moment, is a Schumacher project so he might be safe.
6 races to go and it'll be difficult to see beyond a McLaren driver taking the title. It'll require problems for McLaren in reliability and a Ferrari driver winning the next 6 races probably.
That driver you're thinking of is probably Gary Paffett. I think, given a choice, Alonso would stick to his contract but it comes down to whether Alonso can live with McLaren's 'no number 1 driver' policy and Hamilton.
I think there is definitely a Renault seat up for grabs because Fisichella has been looking more and more useless next to Kovalainen. It's getting less and less likely, in my opinion, that BMW would look outside their organisation for a driver. Heidfeld for another season and then Vettel with Kubica. Ferrari will keep Raikkonen and Massa, although questioned in Ferrari at the moment, is a Schumacher project so he might be safe.
6 races to go and it'll be difficult to see beyond a McLaren driver taking the title. It'll require problems for McLaren in reliability and a Ferrari driver winning the next 6 races probably.
I would think McLaren would want a huge amount to let Hamilton go - especially to Ferrari of all places!
If Alonso wins the title with McLaren, then I can see him leaving, head held high in a kind of "well, I've done what I wanted to do" type air about him. Would he go back to Renault? He'd want a race winning car. Him & Kimi at a reliable Ferrari sounds good, now that I think about it.
McLaren could have Lewis & perhaps that other English bloke. Can't think of his name. He's managed by Brundle & Blundell, drives German DTM for Mercedes. Anyway, him.
Can't believe there's only 6 races to go. Just hope it stays a 4 horse race for as long as possible. Ideal finishing positions in Turkey 1 - Kimi, 2 - Massa, 3 - Alonso and Lewis about 7th, just to close the gap at the top of the table.
If Alonso wins the title with McLaren, then I can see him leaving, head held high in a kind of "well, I've done what I wanted to do" type air about him. Would he go back to Renault? He'd want a race winning car. Him & Kimi at a reliable Ferrari sounds good, now that I think about it.
McLaren could have Lewis & perhaps that other English bloke. Can't think of his name. He's managed by Brundle & Blundell, drives German DTM for Mercedes. Anyway, him.
Can't believe there's only 6 races to go. Just hope it stays a 4 horse race for as long as possible. Ideal finishing positions in Turkey 1 - Kimi, 2 - Massa, 3 - Alonso and Lewis about 7th, just to close the gap at the top of the table.
Having said that, I found out that Hamilton is reportedly earning £250,000 a season. If Ferrari come in and McLaren agree to what would be a fairly cheap buyout, Hamilton may feel the time is right. Alonso may be happy to stay if Hamilton is the one to leave.
Renault is a good choice. They've spent a bit of money on new facilities to improve performance. I think Honda have wind tunnel issues because they test the car and bits in the wind tunnel, everything looks fine and then on the track the downforce is inefficient and the car is slow.
I agree that Massa has done a good job. Maybe Ferrari feel he doesn't have the consistency to be considered a World Champion and that Hamilton does and Alonso definitely does.
BMW's key season will be next season as it's difficult to stay at the top. Jordan were near the front and fell back but that was due to engines mainly. Honda due to a poor car and the inability to fix the problem. Renault with no real driver to focus the car on. The Renault was the perfect car for Alonso. Ferrari and McLaren know how to build cars and keep them at the front. Williams lost a lot of key personnel and have switched engines a lot.
Vettel is young and needs races. If he's as good as they say he is, he will shine in a team where it's not so good. I would think BMW would give him a seat when the time comes. Heidfeld may be forced into retirement if BMW kick him out. Could even be next season.
Renault is a good choice. They've spent a bit of money on new facilities to improve performance. I think Honda have wind tunnel issues because they test the car and bits in the wind tunnel, everything looks fine and then on the track the downforce is inefficient and the car is slow.
I agree that Massa has done a good job. Maybe Ferrari feel he doesn't have the consistency to be considered a World Champion and that Hamilton does and Alonso definitely does.
BMW's key season will be next season as it's difficult to stay at the top. Jordan were near the front and fell back but that was due to engines mainly. Honda due to a poor car and the inability to fix the problem. Renault with no real driver to focus the car on. The Renault was the perfect car for Alonso. Ferrari and McLaren know how to build cars and keep them at the front. Williams lost a lot of key personnel and have switched engines a lot.
Vettel is young and needs races. If he's as good as they say he is, he will shine in a team where it's not so good. I would think BMW would give him a seat when the time comes. Heidfeld may be forced into retirement if BMW kick him out. Could even be next season.
Let's be honest, any team in the pitlane would clear the decks and open the cheque books for either Alonso or Hamilton. Personally I think that Alonso is more likely to leave than Hamilton. I think Hamilton is more loyal to McLaren, given his history with them. I'd be surprised if he didn't see out his contract with them, which I would imagine would be quite long - 4 or 5 years maybe? Once that's up, he may leave, but I can't see him going before.
Not sure why Ferrari would want to out Massa, I think he's done a good job so far, given the reliability issues - which are (or were) so rare for Ferrari. Unless Massa's contract is up at the end of the year anyway?
BMW could be a good choice to go too but something tells me that they just won't be able to keep up this rate of improvement. Look at Honda. Clear number 2 in 2004(?), now look. I'm not saying that BMW will end up pretty much last, but if any team is challenging Ferrari & McLaren next year I would expect that to be Renault. They've been up there, they know what it takes ot get at the top and stay there.
I think that Vettel has taken a backwards step in his career. Unless STR sort themselves out he's not going to be able to show what he's capable of. He could have tested next year for BMW then probably gone straight into a race seat in '09. Unless that's the plan for him now anyway? Learn at STR next year, then replace a retiring Heidfeld in '09?
Not sure why Ferrari would want to out Massa, I think he's done a good job so far, given the reliability issues - which are (or were) so rare for Ferrari. Unless Massa's contract is up at the end of the year anyway?
BMW could be a good choice to go too but something tells me that they just won't be able to keep up this rate of improvement. Look at Honda. Clear number 2 in 2004(?), now look. I'm not saying that BMW will end up pretty much last, but if any team is challenging Ferrari & McLaren next year I would expect that to be Renault. They've been up there, they know what it takes ot get at the top and stay there.
I think that Vettel has taken a backwards step in his career. Unless STR sort themselves out he's not going to be able to show what he's capable of. He could have tested next year for BMW then probably gone straight into a race seat in '09. Unless that's the plan for him now anyway? Learn at STR next year, then replace a retiring Heidfeld in '09?
Mansell has said that Button will never win the World Championship. He's probably right. There's one thing about that though. He said that he has had the chance to win the World Championship. I don't think he's ever driven a car that has been what I call a Championship contender. There has always been a car faster than Honda and some poor development has meant that they slip further back.
McLaren are appealing in the hope they get their Constructors Championship points for Hungary. Appeals very rarely work but we'll have to wait and see. If they get the points, McLaren would have to do something rather silly (or lose the spygate appeal decision getting kicked out of the Championship) to lose the Constructors Championship.
McLaren are appealing in the hope they get their Constructors Championship points for Hungary. Appeals very rarely work but we'll have to wait and see. If they get the points, McLaren would have to do something rather silly (or lose the spygate appeal decision getting kicked out of the Championship) to lose the Constructors Championship.
The Alonso/Hamilton saga continues with reports out of McLaren saying that they are fed up with both drivers and that if Alonso wants to leave, he can.
However, Ferrari are reportedly planning to raid McLaren to sign Hamilton to replace Massa.
Alonso is linked with Ferrari, Renault (replacing Fisichella) and BMW, where he would replace Heidfeld.
However, Ferrari are reportedly planning to raid McLaren to sign Hamilton to replace Massa.
Alonso is linked with Ferrari, Renault (replacing Fisichella) and BMW, where he would replace Heidfeld.
He has done on occasion. He's actually said a few swear words on ITV programming and to say that the car doesn't have efficient downforce is a big slight against the team because it's basically saying the car doesn't work properly.
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