F1 2007 - Going to be an interesting season
Discussion
Is anyone else thinking 2007 could be an interesting season...
Obviously Alonso is the favored driver - but he's in a McLaren, who have suffered relability and consistancy problems for the last couple of years, and as such, may struggle.
Kimi in a Ferrari then becomes the favorite - especially as all runners will be on Bridgestones, something Ferrari have a lot of experience with - But i've never been convinced about his abilities - he too has seem inconsistant, and I think if there are no team orders, it will be close between him and Massa..
Renault have race winning cars - but no race winning drivers, (I know fissi has, but not consistantly)
Honda are making big noises about a championship challenge for 07 - I personally dont see it, but lets wait and see.
Red Bull getting a new chassis and renault powerplants - could be a dark horse.
I think the odds are in Kimi's favor, but I really dont think he's as good as people say... which would leave the season wide open... who do you think's going to be challenging for the title next year?
Obviously Alonso is the favored driver - but he's in a McLaren, who have suffered relability and consistancy problems for the last couple of years, and as such, may struggle.
Kimi in a Ferrari then becomes the favorite - especially as all runners will be on Bridgestones, something Ferrari have a lot of experience with - But i've never been convinced about his abilities - he too has seem inconsistant, and I think if there are no team orders, it will be close between him and Massa..
Renault have race winning cars - but no race winning drivers, (I know fissi has, but not consistantly)
Honda are making big noises about a championship challenge for 07 - I personally dont see it, but lets wait and see.
Red Bull getting a new chassis and renault powerplants - could be a dark horse.
I think the odds are in Kimi's favor, but I really dont think he's as good as people say... which would leave the season wide open... who do you think's going to be challenging for the title next year?
It looks fascinating - Alonso will be top dog but there's a whole load of drivers out there wanting to assert their position. And of course we have potentially some very good rookies - Kovalinen in a Renault, good chance of Hamilton in the second McLaren, possibly Davidson (virtually a rookie) and Paffet, maybe, amongst others.
With so many changes teams with stable line-ups could take advantage - Honda definitely have potential to move up the grid, as do Toyota if they have stabilised their design teams. And Red Bull with Newey.
Don't underestimate McLaren and Ferrari have the potential to continue at the front - I did wonder if today's engine failure is the team practising for Raikonen but perhaps that's a little cruel...
With so many changes teams with stable line-ups could take advantage - Honda definitely have potential to move up the grid, as do Toyota if they have stabilised their design teams. And Red Bull with Newey.
Don't underestimate McLaren and Ferrari have the potential to continue at the front - I did wonder if today's engine failure is the team practising for Raikonen but perhaps that's a little cruel...
I'd say it'll be Kimi. If the engine freeze thing starts from the next race, I really dont see McLaren & Alonso doing much. As you said Renault dont really have any consistent race winners, Honda dont have the full pace of the Ferrari's and Renaults and the rest will be left fighting amongst themselves
Odd though it may seem, I recently saw a credible article stating that currently the Ilmor/Mercedes engine produces the most power of any on the grid.
Also, this year McL. have had not nearly the number of engine failures as last year.
I think that the issues with that engine are how it fits in the package, and the manner of the power delivery.
Also, this year McL. have had not nearly the number of engine failures as last year.
I think that the issues with that engine are how it fits in the package, and the manner of the power delivery.
Interesting...
At various points through the season I have heard that both Honda and BMW claim to have the most powerful engine...
Either way - 2006 was always going to be Alonso or Shumacher - and while the clever money next year will be on Alonso or Kimi - I doubt it will be a one or two horse race this time, and I think due to car/driver inconsitancies they wont be as far ahead of the field as this season.
Which will make it interesting at least.
At various points through the season I have heard that both Honda and BMW claim to have the most powerful engine...
Either way - 2006 was always going to be Alonso or Shumacher - and while the clever money next year will be on Alonso or Kimi - I doubt it will be a one or two horse race this time, and I think due to car/driver inconsitancies they wont be as far ahead of the field as this season.
Which will make it interesting at least.
fidgits said:
Honda are making big noises about a championship challenge for 07 - I personally dont see it, but lets wait and see.
I'm wondering if they have probably pushed their engine development forward to get it as advanced as possible before the development freeze, probably running it slightly detuned for the remainder of the season for reliability purposes. Might account for their shocking straightline speeds, although they constantly have the fastest apex speeds (as Jensen did today at Suzuka). So they could be running more wing to try to get time back in the corners.
Whoever wins it I hope they are driving a Ferrari, but I would rather see Massa than Kimi win it. Unfortunately, I dont think Massa is a World Champion! We will have to wait and see about Kimi, will he break the Ferrari like he seems to break Mclarens!
After Ferrari I don't really care who wins it, as long as it isn't Alonso.
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Stuart
After Ferrari I don't really care who wins it, as long as it isn't Alonso.
-
Stuart
I think things will get interesting at the back of the field. Spyker will have Ferrari engines, and I daresay will get some tech input in an attempt to move them up the field and make them a useful supporting act for the Dancing Donkeys.
Also Aguri will have this year's Honda, hopefully with Davidson-San behind the wheel, so they will be able to make a worthwhile contribution to proceedings.
Williams will make good use of the Toyota engine, and considering it's their first year back as an independent team it could have been worse. Nico will benefit from a year's experience, but I think they need to sign a proven and successful driver to go alongside him, Alex Wurz is good, but isn't going to give them a shot in the arm IMHO.
Also it's all change for Red Bull, with Renault engines and an Adrian Newey car. If there are going to be any surprises next year, I think it will come from here.
Also Aguri will have this year's Honda, hopefully with Davidson-San behind the wheel, so they will be able to make a worthwhile contribution to proceedings.
Williams will make good use of the Toyota engine, and considering it's their first year back as an independent team it could have been worse. Nico will benefit from a year's experience, but I think they need to sign a proven and successful driver to go alongside him, Alex Wurz is good, but isn't going to give them a shot in the arm IMHO.
Also it's all change for Red Bull, with Renault engines and an Adrian Newey car. If there are going to be any surprises next year, I think it will come from here.
Edited by D-Angle on Sunday 8th October 23:27
sstein said:
Whoever wins it I hope they are driving a Ferrari, but I would rather see Massa than Kimi win it. Unfortunately, I dont think Massa is a World Champion! We will have to wait and see about Kimi, will he break the Ferrari like he seems to break Mclarens!
After Ferrari I don't really care who wins it, as long as it isn't Alonso.
-
Stuart
After Ferrari I don't really care who wins it, as long as it isn't Alonso.
-
Stuart
spot the bitter Schumi fan... what are you going to do next season stuart? No one to make excuses for, no appaling acts to turn a blind eye to
Kimi will break the Ferrari. He's the only person to consistently have problems with the Mclaren, so I don't believe it's the car.
Alonso should win it. But he's been driving a massively understeery Renault for a couple of years and McLaren won't build a car like that, so it will take a change in driving style for him to adapt - could be a problem...
Fisi is too inconsistent, not a championship contender. Kovaliannen {sp?) could be a dark horse, but ultimately is too inexperienced.
Massa - read Fisi.
Button 'could' be in the running. The team have more consistency and I believe will be challenging McLaren and Ferrari next year - possibly picking up the pieces when they get it wrong.
Barichello just doesn't have the ultimate pace anymore.
Another dark horse could be Kubica. The BMW has improved more than any other car this year and Kubica has made an impressive start to his F1 career - much more so than Rosberg.
It should be an interesting season!
Alonso should win it. But he's been driving a massively understeery Renault for a couple of years and McLaren won't build a car like that, so it will take a change in driving style for him to adapt - could be a problem...
Fisi is too inconsistent, not a championship contender. Kovaliannen {sp?) could be a dark horse, but ultimately is too inexperienced.
Massa - read Fisi.
Button 'could' be in the running. The team have more consistency and I believe will be challenging McLaren and Ferrari next year - possibly picking up the pieces when they get it wrong.
Barichello just doesn't have the ultimate pace anymore.
Another dark horse could be Kubica. The BMW has improved more than any other car this year and Kubica has made an impressive start to his F1 career - much more so than Rosberg.
It should be an interesting season!
The two top drivers are in new cars, so they might take a few GPs to adapt. I don't think Alonso would have too much problems with McLaren, as long as the car is reliable. Kimi should do well in a Ferrari.
Fisi is in the very reliable, and very fast Renault, same with Massa. Fisi is more experienced, but Massa is maturing well. Both are good 2nd drivers with good cars.
Perhaps it will be 4-way battle between Alonso, Fisi, Kimi, and Massa.
If Honda improves its reliability and power next year, they Jensen Button might also be a contender. His showed some performances this year, in a middle-rate car. One to watch out for.
Fisi is in the very reliable, and very fast Renault, same with Massa. Fisi is more experienced, but Massa is maturing well. Both are good 2nd drivers with good cars.
Perhaps it will be 4-way battle between Alonso, Fisi, Kimi, and Massa.
If Honda improves its reliability and power next year, they Jensen Button might also be a contender. His showed some performances this year, in a middle-rate car. One to watch out for.
flemke said:
sstein said:
What will you do with no-one to shout cheat at,
what will happen to the ridiculously biased conspiracy theories??
what will happen to the ridiculously biased conspiracy theories??
That will depend on what the cheaters and conspirators do next!
Good answer! Although with Shumi and Braun out, it just wont be the same...
And I agree with the Kimi comment - his driving style does seem to break cars a lot...
FourWheelDrift said:
fidgits said:
Honda are making big noises about a championship challenge for 07 - I personally dont see it, but lets wait and see.
I'm wondering if they have probably pushed their engine development forward to get it as advanced as possible before the development freeze, probably running it slightly detuned for the remainder of the season for reliability purposes. Might account for their shocking straightline speeds, although they constantly have the fastest apex speeds (as Jensen did today at Suzuka). So they could be running more wing to try to get time back in the corners.
I'm hoping you are right, and that after Davidson blowing up the new engines at a previous race, Honda have really turned down the revs for these last 2 races to get through - right now they are unassailable in the Constructors, as is Button in the drivers, so they can afford to do this.
They may then have more development to exploit with their engine for next year, increasing power once they're confident with reliability. If this is the case, they could be dominant.
D-Angle said:
Spyker will have Ferrari engines, and I daresay will get some tech input in an attempt to move them up the field and make them a useful supporting act for the Dancing Donkeys.
Red Bull have not been turned into a supporting act for Ferrari this year so I don't see why or how it would happen for Spyker next year.
Next year's championships are all down to the cars. If either Ferrari or McLaren can create a class leading car, they've certainly got the drivers to be able to take advanatage of them. On the basis of recent history Ferrari are more likely than McLaren to create such a car. I don't buy this thing about Raikonnen breaking his cars. His retirements over the last few years could easily be accounted for by sheer bad luck. Don't forget that Montoya also had a fair number of mechanical failures last season. If Raikkonen does have a weakness I reckon it's that he's slightly more prone to making drving errors than Alonso.
The only way I can see Renault taking either title is if they have a car that is far better than the rest and stays that way for the entire season. Fisichella doesn't appear to be a driver who could succeed without such an advantage.
The only way I can see Renault taking either title is if they have a car that is far better than the rest and stays that way for the entire season. Fisichella doesn't appear to be a driver who could succeed without such an advantage.
Edited by SamHH on Monday 9th October 11:20
flemke said:
Odd though it may seem, I recently saw a credible article stating that currently the Ilmor/Mercedes engine produces the most power of any on the grid.
Also, this year McL. have had not nearly the number of engine failures as last year.
I think that the issues with that engine are how it fits in the package, and the manner of the power delivery.
Also, this year McL. have had not nearly the number of engine failures as last year.
I think that the issues with that engine are how it fits in the package, and the manner of the power delivery.
I, perhaps wrongly, thought that McLaren purely used Merc engines now instead of Ilmor built ones?
Also I thought Ilmor was no longer actually Ilmor?
ApexJimi said:
I, perhaps wrongly, thought that McLaren purely used Merc engines now instead of Ilmor built ones?
Also I thought Ilmor was no longer actually Ilmor?
D-C have bought Ilmor, so it's true that the original company no longer exists as such. Also I thought Ilmor was no longer actually Ilmor?
In that the core of the engine group has little to do with Mercedes except in the ownership and who-calls-the-shots senses, I thought it would be clearer to say "Ilmor". I'm not even sure what the company's name is now.
By the way, I gather that a lot of the engineers at what-use-to-be-Ilmor have come over from Cosworth in the last year or so.
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