bahrain winner?

[paolow]

having given it a bit of thought ive got:

Raikkonen and Button.

obviously not both - but im 85% certain it will be one or the other. i dont think the winner will be bridgestone shod which leaves only the half decent mich teams, of which ive discounted the bottom enders. that leaves macca, honda, renault and toyota.

binning the b drivers that leaves Raikk, Button, Alonso and Trulli/Ralf

discounting the Toyota pair as just not being quick enough, i would also discount button but for the fact the honda is so incredibly fast (at times) and the team has great momentum and strong testing results. i dont think the renaults will have the edge they had given the development being evolution not revolution and the fact that the rest of the field were pretty close so that gives me the two selected.

if the macca is reliable, mclaren know how to win a race and will do it certainly. if not, due to reliability which is still an issue for them, i think button or alonso will be there to pick up the pieces - but i think this season button can be faster, though the renaults more reliable.

if williams werent with bridgestone theyd be in the shortlist. its unlikely to be a wet race though which is why theyre not there, though i personally really like the rest of the package.

or am i barking up the wrong tree?

thoughts?

would you swap button for alonso?

[baz1985]

Got to be Kimi or Alonso. As for Button, next to those two he's second rate

[flemke]

You would expect a more random, less repeatable result early in the season, so this could be Honda's best chance. Or Super Aguri's.

[daydreamer]

Toyota are on Bridgestones this year, so Truli and Ralph are also out on your first count.

Button may not be quite as killer instinct as Kimi, but he is quick. It is good to see that he set the fastes lap in a V8 car around one of the winter test tracks, only 0.4s behind the old unofficial lap record in a V10, also held by one J Button.

I reckon he has a chance - and as said above, early season is the time for a mini-upset

[D_Mike]

Webber!

[D_Mike]

I am expecting montoya to beat raikonnen this season too.

[baz1985]

D_Mike said:

Webber!

As a Williams fan I wish. If we were on Michelin maybe. I think we are losing 1 sec a lap

[gtr-gaz]

D_Mike said:

I am expecting montoya to beat raikonnen this season too.

Only if he can keep out of trouble, which I doubt!

[Jon C]

I think Micke Kegered will beat Tommy Moller......


Oh, you mean in the supporting Formula One Race?


Who Cares.....

[zaktoo]

D_Mike said:

I am expecting montoya to beat raikonnen this season too.

Here you go....

[sstein]

I seem to be only one, but anyway

Michael Shumacher

I think the tyre change rule could really help bridgestone.

I hope.

-

Stuart

[porkus]

sstein said:

I seem to be only one, but anyway Michael Shumacher I think the tyre change rule could really help bridgestone. I hope. - Stuart

Nope two

[team underdog]

Alonso will be the man to beat again i think - they have the speed and reliability. The Honda drivers will be next up i reckon, followed by the McLarens.

Behind them its a bit of a lottery - Ferrari, Toyota and Williams will be all fighting on Bridgestones, tho i reckon Webber in particular could be in for a strong first few races.

Didnt like the sound of this years V8's on the ITV preview today, just too puny.

Just one week and all will be revealed!

[F348]

Bernie Ecclestone!

[D-Angle]

I think Williams are going to be a dark horse this year. They probably won't give a strong showing in Bahrain, but by the time we get to the European season I think they will be very competitive. My prediction for this year is a win for Williams in the rain.

[SKR]

I think Alonso will be the one to beat this year, although you can never discount schey and Kimi wants it bad, if that merc engine holds out I think he will be right up there.

Looking forward to the first race.

[RobbieMeister]

Massa

[tollytuff]

hmm. reliability is always a huge factor in the first few races, but especially the first. i remember years where more than half the field wouldnt finish. so i'd be surprised if the mclarens actually finished! they have been looking a bit frail during testing... renault surely have the best chance of winning the first race i think, their reliability over the winter has been very strong. but i think fisi will want a win badly, so i think he'll be up there.

toyota and honda have been spending money like its going out of fashion - they simply HAVE to win to justify their F1 involement. i think (or is that 'i'd like to see') ferrari are on a downward phase, and will be lucky to get 4th or 5th in this years constructors champ'. massa is a monkey, it'll take him ages to get to grips with the car. so shuey wont be getting as much support as he is used to..

i think anthony davidson smashed the valencia track record last week in the honda (pity he hasnt got a drive) so i really think button will be in with a serious chance, as that car doesnt look too shoddy.

fisi and button then, yep i think thats my choice.. although i'd rather see a williams on top!

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

I'm forecasting it'll be one of these:





Alonso
Raikkonen
Schumacher M
Schumacher R
Webber
Barrichello
Coulthard
Heidfield
Monteiro
Liuzzi
Sato
Fisichella
Montoya
Massa
Trulli
Rosberg
Button
Klien
Villeneuve
Albers
Speed
Ide




although, if I had a bet, a mystery driver would turn up between now & Sunday & win!