F1 car of the year 2006

[iamthestig]

Looks like Renault are going to win the championship again this year despite not having the fastest car. All things being equal (tyres/fuel load/drivers...) Which do you think is the fastest car out there this year? The Mclaren's got to be within a shout too.

[mindgam3]

I think if all cars were running their absolute optimal, it would be the macca. Too bad its inconsistent and unreliable

[jacobyte]

iamthestig said:

Looks like Renault are going to win the championship again this year despite not having the fastest car.

On the surface that looks to be correct - fastest laps this year are as follows:

Ferrari 8
Renault 5
McLaren 3
Williams 1

Read into that what you may; it appears that the Ferrari has been the quickest, but you can use statistics to say anything you like. It may or may not mean that Renault are getting more out of their drivers than Ferrari are.

[FourWheelDrift]

Just to be different I'd say the 2002 Arrows A23-Honda. I can't think of many 4 years old F1 cars that could be bought, trimmed to 06 rules have a new V8 engine bolted to the back of it that it wasn't designed to have in the first place and be in the hands of Sato betwee half and a second off a full 2006 Midland or Torro Rosso car in qualifying.

It showed glimses of being very fast in 2002 but Arrows lack of money prevented it from showing itself. Frentzen could put it regularly 11th/12th in qualifying before the money ran dry.