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This year, the F1 circus visits China and Bahrain for the first time, and Imola for probably the last time. Imola will always be remembered as the track that killed Senna, and so it is almost fitting in a way that what will probably be its last grand prix will be held ten years later. The Chinese and Bahraini circuits both look impressive compared to some on the calendar (i.e. Magny Cours and Hockenheim). The Chinese track contains some long straights followed with tight corners, which could well allow for some impressive overtaking, and the track in Bahrain involves sweeping curves and two flat out sections which also look like they could show us some good jousting between drivers.
Team-by-Team guide:
MARLBORO SCUDERIA FERRARI- Ferrari have dominated the sport since 2000, with Michael Schumacher picking up four consecutive drivers’ championships. However, new regulations have been cruel on Ferrari, and Schumacher only won by a couple of points last year, after constant pressure from Montoya and Raikonnen. The new Ferrari looks impressive, but somehow doesn’t seem that special. It hasn’t done as well in testing as I had personally expected, and isn’t as radical looking as the offerings from McLaren and Williams. However, it looks quite neat, and has a lot of flick-ups at the end, which look very menacing, and could produce the necessary downforce. Ferrari are also the only top team on Bridgestone tyres, and this could cause problems, seeing that Michelin seem to be winning the tyre war at the moment. I think, as ever, that the Ferraris will challenge, but seeing as the F2004 car is nothing new and doesn’t seem as promising as its predecessors, the Scuderia may well have a fight on their hands.
WEST McLAREN MERCEDES- The new McLaren, I must say looks incredibly radical: it is incredibly narrow, and has a thin, downward facing nose cone, which indeed looks impressive. These could prove to be great, and may well, as the car has showed much promise in testing, breaking lap records. There will also be an improved version introduced later in the season, which could well help a possible run in for the title: McLaren could have challenged for the title in a far better way last year had it not been for the fact that they were unable to introduce a completely new car. There is also a good driver pairing here in Coulthard and Raikonnen. However, Coulthard did poorly last year after winning the Australian Grand Prix in majestic style, and Raikonnen almost won the title. We could see a good rivalry here; Coulthard is set to be replaced by Montoya next year, and will have to have a blinder of a season to keep his berth. However, the team look set to do well, seeing that they were first to have their car up and running.
WILLIAMS BMW- Williams’ latest challenger looks very different from the rest of the field, sporting a very wide and low nose cone. This car was really impressive during testing, and if there are no problems with the massive frontal area, Williams could well have a good year. The driver pairing is strong as well; Montoya looks set to challenge, and Ralf Schumacher should, as ever, impress. But there is now talk of Schumacher leaving next year as well as Montoya, so there will be speculation throughout the season as to who will be the replacements. This, as well as added pressure, could cause problems. But with a good new car, skilled drivers and what is possibly the most powerful engine on the grid, Williams could well mount a strong challenge.
MILD SEVEN RENAULT- Renault look set to challenge the top three this year, with a new car that looks promising which has been fast in testing. The team is incredibly well funded, and has a great first driver in Alonso, who is reckoned by many, including Michael Schumacher, to be in with a chance of winning the title this year. Trulli is also a good driver, but he rarely impresses in races like he does in qualifying, so it can see like a one driver team. This year is going to be make or break for the French marque: It is not so much if as when they will be challenging for titles as a team.
B&H JORDAN-FORD- Jordan struggled last year, and although Fisichella won in Brazil, it was more driver skill than car quality. But the future does look surprisingly good: Heidfeld has showed promise as a driver throughout his career (Although he struggled in an uncompetitive Sauber last year), and Patano has showed promise in F3000. As ever, though, Jordan’s financial problems may well stop them from being competitive, and this may well be a lean season, seeing that the car has hardly been tested at all.
LUCKY STRIKE BAR-HONDA: BAR have a very strong driver pairing here in Sato and Button, and the team will probably be challenging for fifth place this year. The new car looks incredibly impressive, with both drivers having set lap records in it during testing. However, this may be a false dawn: the cars may well have been carrying very little fuel. But the team will have to do well this year, seeing as they are under threat from a soon to be introduced Tobacco advertising law in the EU.
JAGUAR- With plenty of funding from Ford, Jaguar seem to be ready to go further, and have an excellent driver in Mark Webber, who often scares more illustrious opponents. However, reliability is the key here, and second driver Klein is new to the sport- this could cause unease, as did Pizzonia’s trouble last year. However, the future looks bright, and the new car seems good enough to challenge, although there have not been that many good results in testing from Jaguar.
SAUBER PETRONAS- For the past few years, Sauber have often done well at the beginning of the season, and then faded away as they failed to keep up with developments. However, the new season may well bring rewards- they will now be using exactly the same engine as the works Ferrari team this year instead of the old one, and have two great drivers in Massa and Fisichella. If the new car, which looks conservative, proves to be fast then we may well see the Swiss boys challenging.
TEAM PANASONIC TOYOTA- It only seems like it will be a matter of time until Toyota dominate, and they seem set to continue improve this season, especially since the team has budget of around £150m. The new car looks conservative, but may well prove to be effective, seeing that Mike Gascoyne designed it, and he was behind the impressive Renaults. There’s also a new engine, so expect to see power.
EUROPEAN MINARDI COSWORTH- F1’s perennial strugglers seem set to struggle yet again this year. The new car does not look particularly good (although tidy), and despite the fact that they will be using the same engine as Jaguar and Jordan, I can’t see them doing much more than struggling. However, Bruni seems like a good driver, judging from his results in F3000, and Baumgartner showed promise at Jordan- the team has two good young drivers who could well achieve. It basically all hangs on if the drivers can get a poor car to work well, but I still can’t see the team claiming more than 3 or 4 points all year, if any at all. As ever with Minardi, though, the small budget is the problem.
Judging by this, in my opinion, we may be about to see a really good season- plenty of competition, new tracks, and some promising looking cars. But, we will have to wait and see- the Australian GP is in just under three weeks!
> By the way Matt, are you going to do that competition again?
Heh, the sign up thread was just below this topic, before I popped this. You've already confirmed your driver and team so you just have to wait for the new season.
By the way Matt, are you going to do that competition again?
I gotta get revenge from picking up the wooden spoon..
=D
> Der Nazi wrote:
> Cheers. Didn't GP write a really long preview last year?
>
> Yeah, and it was going to be just as long this year.
Why don't you write one anyway, with a different title? Judging on the last one, it'll probably be fantastic, no kidding.
> Cheers. Didn't GP write a really long preview last year?
Yeah, and it was going to be just as long this year.
Nice run down BTW.
I was going to do one of these.
This year, the F1 circus visits China and Bahrain for the first time, and Imola for probably the last time. Imola will always be remembered as the track that killed Senna, and so it is almost fitting in a way that what will probably be its last grand prix will be held ten years later. The Chinese and Bahraini circuits both look impressive compared to some on the calendar (i.e. Magny Cours and Hockenheim). The Chinese track contains some long straights followed with tight corners, which could well allow for some impressive overtaking, and the track in Bahrain involves sweeping curves and two flat out sections which also look like they could show us some good jousting between drivers.
Team-by-Team guide:
MARLBORO SCUDERIA FERRARI- Ferrari have dominated the sport since 2000, with Michael Schumacher picking up four consecutive drivers’ championships. However, new regulations have been cruel on Ferrari, and Schumacher only won by a couple of points last year, after constant pressure from Montoya and Raikonnen. The new Ferrari looks impressive, but somehow doesn’t seem that special. It hasn’t done as well in testing as I had personally expected, and isn’t as radical looking as the offerings from McLaren and Williams. However, it looks quite neat, and has a lot of flick-ups at the end, which look very menacing, and could produce the necessary downforce. Ferrari are also the only top team on Bridgestone tyres, and this could cause problems, seeing that Michelin seem to be winning the tyre war at the moment. I think, as ever, that the Ferraris will challenge, but seeing as the F2004 car is nothing new and doesn’t seem as promising as its predecessors, the Scuderia may well have a fight on their hands.
WEST McLAREN MERCEDES- The new McLaren, I must say looks incredibly radical: it is incredibly narrow, and has a thin, downward facing nose cone, which indeed looks impressive. These could prove to be great, and may well, as the car has showed much promise in testing, breaking lap records. There will also be an improved version introduced later in the season, which could well help a possible run in for the title: McLaren could have challenged for the title in a far better way last year had it not been for the fact that they were unable to introduce a completely new car. There is also a good driver pairing here in Coulthard and Raikonnen. However, Coulthard did poorly last year after winning the Australian Grand Prix in majestic style, and Raikonnen almost won the title. We could see a good rivalry here; Coulthard is set to be replaced by Montoya next year, and will have to have a blinder of a season to keep his berth. However, the team look set to do well, seeing that they were first to have their car up and running.
WILLIAMS BMW- Williams’ latest challenger looks very different from the rest of the field, sporting a very wide and low nose cone. This car was really impressive during testing, and if there are no problems with the massive frontal area, Williams could well have a good year. The driver pairing is strong as well; Montoya looks set to challenge, and Ralf Schumacher should, as ever, impress. But there is now talk of Schumacher leaving next year as well as Montoya, so there will be speculation throughout the season as to who will be the replacements. This, as well as added pressure, could cause problems. But with a good new car, skilled drivers and what is possibly the most powerful engine on the grid, Williams could well mount a strong challenge.
MILD SEVEN RENAULT- Renault look set to challenge the top three this year, with a new car that looks promising which has been fast in testing. The team is incredibly well funded, and has a great first driver in Alonso, who is reckoned by many, including Michael Schumacher, to be in with a chance of winning the title this year. Trulli is also a good driver, but he rarely impresses in races like he does in qualifying, so it can see like a one driver team. This year is going to be make or break for the French marque: It is not so much if as when they will be challenging for titles as a team.
B&H JORDAN-FORD- Jordan struggled last year, and although Fisichella won in Brazil, it was more driver skill than car quality. But the future does look surprisingly good: Heidfeld has showed promise as a driver throughout his career (Although he struggled in an uncompetitive Sauber last year), and Patano has showed promise in F3000. As ever, though, Jordan’s financial problems may well stop them from being competitive, and this may well be a lean season, seeing that the car has hardly been tested at all.
LUCKY STRIKE BAR-HONDA: BAR have a very strong driver pairing here in Sato and Button, and the team will probably be challenging for fifth place this year. The new car looks incredibly impressive, with both drivers having set lap records in it during testing. However, this may be a false dawn: the cars may well have been carrying very little fuel. But the team will have to do well this year, seeing as they are under threat from a soon to be introduced Tobacco advertising law in the EU.
JAGUAR- With plenty of funding from Ford, Jaguar seem to be ready to go further, and have an excellent driver in Mark Webber, who often scares more illustrious opponents. However, reliability is the key here, and second driver Klein is new to the sport- this could cause unease, as did Pizzonia’s trouble last year. However, the future looks bright, and the new car seems good enough to challenge, although there have not been that many good results in testing from Jaguar.
SAUBER PETRONAS- For the past few years, Sauber have often done well at the beginning of the season, and then faded away as they failed to keep up with developments. However, the new season may well bring rewards- they will now be using exactly the same engine as the works Ferrari team this year instead of the old one, and have two great drivers in Massa and Fisichella. If the new car, which looks conservative, proves to be fast then we may well see the Swiss boys challenging.
TEAM PANASONIC TOYOTA- It only seems like it will be a matter of time until Toyota dominate, and they seem set to continue improve this season, especially since the team has budget of around £150m. The new car looks conservative, but may well prove to be effective, seeing that Mike Gascoyne designed it, and he was behind the impressive Renaults. There’s also a new engine, so expect to see power.
EUROPEAN MINARDI COSWORTH- F1’s perennial strugglers seem set to struggle yet again this year. The new car does not look particularly good (although tidy), and despite the fact that they will be using the same engine as Jaguar and Jordan, I can’t see them doing much more than struggling. However, Bruni seems like a good driver, judging from his results in F3000, and Baumgartner showed promise at Jordan- the team has two good young drivers who could well achieve. It basically all hangs on if the drivers can get a poor car to work well, but I still can’t see the team claiming more than 3 or 4 points all year, if any at all. As ever with Minardi, though, the small budget is the problem.
Judging by this, in my opinion, we may be about to see a really good season- plenty of competition, new tracks, and some promising looking cars. But, we will have to wait and see- the Australian GP is in just under three weeks!