Viewing Thread:
"The 2007 Formula 1 season"

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.

It's only natural for the British to put pressure on the new guy doing so well. There hasn't been a Brit with a real shot at the title for a while and with the number of British drivers in decline, it was going to happen.

I'm not getting carried away by it all though. He has obvious talent but he is a rookie at this level. He has kept his head while others have been losing theres and the Nurburgring was a combination of poor team tactics and rookie errors. He won't make the same mistake.

The pressure is really on him now though. The challengers are a lot closer now and he can't afford another bad race. He can't even allow Alonso to finish ahead of him because Alonso has more wins.

I think Lewis Hamilton used up almost all of his nine lives this weekend. Its a Shame that the second Ferrari broke down it would have been a cracking race.

Maclren are doing well just now but there is hardly a season goes by that teams have some reliability issues, and I am sure that this season will be no differant. I work for Shell and do support Ferrari with a passion, I think Lewis great but feel that the commentators are puting so much extra pressure on his shoulders at the moment but reliability could be his downfall, for this season. I take my hat of to Leis he has talent for sure and has the aggresive bite needed to be at the front.

Redbull are doing well and DC is signed for another year, but does he have the aggression to be at the front?

Kev

Biggie Little Jr wrote:
> Just utter chaos that race, here's too much too talk about, it's
> a shame Lewis couldn't get any points, Ferrari looked gutted
> when Alonso took the lead! It reminded me of the Brazilian
> rain-effected race a few years ago when Raikkonen finished
> first, but Fisichella was awarded the win.

Montoya raced 2 seasons of F3000 before he won the Champ Car title in 1999. He had European circuit knowledge.

I can imagine Berger using his size advantage to lean on the small Speed. Berger gives the impression of someone who expects the best and Speed certainly isn't doing that. 10 races in and he has only finished 3 races. He'll either see out the season, which I would think is unlikely or he'll be replaced. Vettel is available and I'm sure BMW would want him to get race experience as he will be the natural successor to Heidfeld, who is 30 now. It depends on how long he wants to continue.

It's getting a little ugly at Toro Rosso. Looks like Vettel may well be in soon, according to Crash.net, as well.

As for Bourdais, he does need to be in F1; come to think of it, the last team to hire a ChampCar champion was Williams, and unlike Montoya, Bourdais has good experience of European circuits from F3000. Maybe a good bet for next year, seeing as Wurz's best results have often been from other drivers' misfortunes? Hell, he may even end up at Toyota.

And Prodrive with British drivers sounds good to me, I don't think British drivers have really dominated the grid since the early 70s, it's about time! :D And if they will be using the '07 McLaren chassis next year, they might get some decent results to boot!

I get the feeling Prodrive will go for British drivers, which would be an interesting plan. It would be nice, from a British perspective, as it gives some talented British drivers a chance to shine.

I don't think Speed and Liuzzi have done enough. Doornbos has been pretty successful in Champ Car and I think Jani is there too.

I think Bourdais is a no brainer in F1. He has to be given a chance somewhere, just because he has achieved pretty much everything he can in Champ Car. He has tested with the Red Bull organisation so I would think he would snapped up by them.

I think Wurz is in doubt at Williams. He's been a bit hit and miss and they'll probably look elsewhere for some consistency. I also think Trulli and Ralf will have to buck their ideas up. I've not been impressed by either of them.

Bourdais at STR? They seem to want Speed out, Allegedly, so it does seem to make sense. Then again, there have also been rumours of various people wanting to buy the team out. You can't help but speculate. Liuzzi doesn't seem to have done too brilliantly, compared to his time in GP2/F3000, but he is at a second-string team.

And wasn't Neel Jani also on the Red Bull driver programme at one time? Or just another name? Vettel and Bourdais would be a good pairing, yes, but I can't see it happening.

Bourdais may even end up at the new Prodrive team, if he's looking for a seat they'll have a couple available; James Rossiter and Gary Paffett are both possible contenders if rumours are to be believed. Wait and see, I guess.

I think Red Bull are already ahead of Williams. I think Red Bull are more Renault challenging for that 4th place team spot.

Williams really need to find out why they always drift back through the field as the season progresses. They started really well but teams are beginning to overtake them.

The silly season is well underway. I've heard rumours of Toro Rosso going with Vettel and Bourdais for next season. Not a surprise that Bourdais would leave Champ Car, seeing as he has dominated that for the last 3 years at least.

I heard a rumour today that Alonso might want out of McLaren. Not sure where he would go though. I can't see Ferrari booting out Raikkonen just yet and Massa has the Schumacher seal of approval. Renault is possible but that's going backwards and they don't like to spend too much. There is definitely a seat available. Fisichella has to go. Kovalainen is showing him up on a regular basis.

Red Bull is settled, Williams is possible I suppose, BMW will probably stick with what they've got. If they didn't, they'd probably sign Vettel anyway. Not a lot of high end drives available.

It really was quite a race - shame that Hamilton didn't score any points, as he deserved better for a gutsy drive. But now, the title race really is open; if Raikonnen had been able to keep racing, it really would be. Looks like Button could have had a good race too, were it not for the aquaplaning; the red flags really should have been brought out then, it was simply too dangerous.

And finally, Red Bull have got themselves a good two car finish, well into the points. If they can keep this up, watch out Williams - and hiring Geoff Willis may well further their cause.

Just utter chaos that race, here's too much too talk about, it's a shame Lewis couldn't get any points, Ferrari looked gutted when Alonso took the lead! It reminded me of the Brazilian rain-effected race a few years ago when Raikkonen finished first, but Fisichella was awarded the win.

What an incredible race! The rain caused absolute havoc with aquaplaning at turn 1. Winkelhock starting on intermediates was brilliant and he led the race.

Hamilton had great presence of mind to keep his engine running when he aquaplaned off. The red flag should have come out as soon as cars starting aquaplaning to be honest but thats just my opinion.

The fightback from Hamilton was great to watch and was fearless in his overtaking. The rain at the end caused a fantastic finish and Alonso with a daring move and McLaren with a dodgy release out of the pits meant Alonso stole the win.

Hamilton missed out on the points by not a lot at all but it means the title race is really on now.

It was fantastic to see Webber get on the podium and I enjoyed watching Kovalainen making Fisichella look pretty pathetic.

If you didn't see it, watch the highlights because it was fantastic.