The F1 Thread (Read 606 times)

[thewookster]

I thought I would start a thread on the upcoming F1 season.  I will try and keep it updated with testing results and race results.

I will start off with my own opinions of the main title rivals in the upcoming season.

The Drivers

Sebastian Vettel (Ger): Vettel is looking to get his 4th Championship in a row in 2013 plus with Adrian Newey designing championship winning car after championship winning car you would have to be quite brave to bet against it.  I personally feel this will be Vettel's toughest year in trying to defend his title.  Ferrari want it, McLaren want it so he will have them breathing down his neck the whole season.  I feel we will see what Vettel is really made of this season.

My Prediction: 3rd

Fernando Alonso (Esp): No matter how much it pains me to say it, Fernando Alonso is the best driver on the grid.  Some of his performances last season with a much underpowered car were nothing short of outstanding. I do feel however that they need to start the season well if they want to get Alonso on top.  But it is safe to assume that even without the best car Alonso will still win races he is that good.  But a lot of his season will depend on how far up the grid Massa is.  Because if Massa is ahead of him then he will be able to pass him with no hindrance.

My Prediction: 2nd

Lewis Hamilton (GB): I feel Lewis will be in for one very tough season at Mercedes.  But as he says the 2014 season will be the big season for Mercedes when the new rulings come into play.  Lewis is recognised as being the fastest driver on the grid.  But I just don't see that helping him this season.  I do think he will score points regularly but getting podiums might just be beyond even his abilities.  A lot of Mercedes season depends on whether they are concentrating on this season or are looking more towards the 2014 season.

My Prediction: 7th

Mark Webber (Aus):  I like Mark Webber, he always seems to give it to you straight without the added bull that comes out of some drivers mouths.  But he will be the first to admit that his performances over the past couple of years haven't been good enough.  He has had the tools to win races but they just haven't materialised.  Kers problems seemed to be the main issue with his car.  But even when he had no Kers issues he was properly blitzed by Vettel in the sister Red Bull.  I just feel he maybe coming towards the end of his career, which is a shame as I have always liked Mark.

My Prediction: 5th

Kimi Raikkonen (Fin): Kimi had a good season last year in the Lotus, but you can tell he wanted more.  He can come across as being arrogant and brash but no-one can deny he has some sublime driving skills.  If you give Kimi a decent car he will win you races.  Lotus need to start well, because if they don't they will be left behind by Red Bull, Ferrari and McLaren.  Then you also have to question whether Lotus have the resources to keep developing the car to the levels of the mentioned teams.

My Prediction: 4th

Jenson Button (UK): This is a big season for Jenson Button, he has a car designed specifically for him so he has no excuses about how it "doesn't feel right".  Jenson is the smoothest driver on the grid, and looks after his tires very well.  But he does seem to go off the boil if everything isn't well in the car.  But I do feel he has a better understanding of the tires now and with the car designed specifically for him he should do well.  McLaren were the better team at the latter end of the season so in theory that should roll over into this season as the rule changes aren't much different.  I feel McLaren will start strong, then fade a bit then get back on it towards the business end of the season.  People might be dumbfounded but I feel this will be Jenson's season.

My Prediction: 1st

Felipe Massa (Bra): Felipe Massa has about as much hope of winning the world title with Fernando Alonso as team mate as I have of having lunch on the moon.  For Massa to have any hope he needs A) A great car B) Alonso to retire from F1 at the beginning of the season.  If Massa is ahead of Alonso expect Massa to let Alonso pass.  It's a shame because he started to get back to getting some decent results towards the end of last season.

My Prediction: 8th

Sergio Perez (Mex): Sergio is now mixing it with the big boys with his move to McLaren.  I think we will now see how far he can go in F1.  Me personally I don't think he is that good a driver, either Paul Di Resta or Nico Hulkenberg would have been a better fit.  But we will see.  Sergio at times does show some quality, but then at other times he shows some complete ineptness.  I think he will be well and truly beaten by his team-mate this season but he should aim to get points regularly and maybe also get at least one victory.

My Prediction: 6th

Nico Rosberg (Ger): Nico Rosberg will suffer the same problems as Lewis Hamilton this season but with one main disadvantage.  He's just not as good as Lewis.  Nico can win if he is in a superior car but when the chips are down he does seem to struggle and look quite ordinary.  He will be suffering the same fate as Lewis and that is a long hard season.

My Predicition: 9th

I will write some things on the cars tomorrow or the next day.  But feel free to disagree with what I have written

[terrorj]

Voted for other offcourse 17 march a Dutch rider is gonna start

[thewookster]

Yea Giedo van der Garde is driving for Caterham this season. Errrrr trying to think what his GP2 results were I know he got a couple of wins.

But other than that I can't really remember as I only watched 6 or 7 GP2 races last year

[terrorj]

Yeah I dont know much about him yet,but will see soon enouch.
Hope he's not a second Jos verstappen
But on the other side,Josje is from my town.
I also know his parents,they got a bar here.

[thewookster]

lol @ jos verstappen. "Jos the Boss"

I will post an update later on or tomorrow on the first day of testing at Jerez.

[thewookster]

Day 1 Pre-Season Testing from Jerez

I wouldn't pay too much attention to these times as teams are more concerned with aero testing and data collection, plus the teams will be running different fuel loads which they don't need to publish.  But it is good to see how the overall pace improves over the course of the testing sessions.

Probably get a better idea when the testing heads to Barcelona and if the car isn't up to scratch by then, expect some worried looks from some teams.

Nico Rosberg had an electrical fault so missed majority of the session.

Jenson Button had a fuel pump failure so missed the earlier part of the session.

But now is the time to iron out niggling faults with the cars so nothing to worry about.

1 Jenson Button (McLaren) 1m18.861s 37 laps

2 Mark Webber (Red Bull) 1m19.709s 73

3 Romain Grosjean (Lotus) 1m19.796s 54

4 Paul di Resta (Force India) 1m20.343s 89

5 Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso) 1m20.401s 70

6 Felipe Massa (Ferrari) 1m20.536s 64

7 Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber) 1m20.699s 79

8 Nico Rosberg (Mercedes) 1m20.846s 11

9 Pastor Maldonado (Williams) 1m20.864s 84

10 Giedo van der Garde (Caterham) 1m21.915s 64

11 Max Chilton (Marussia) 1m24.176s 29

[thewookster]

Just to give you a comparison, these are last years times on the 1st day at Jerez

Kimi Raikkonen Lotus 1:19.670 63 laps.

Paul Di Resta Force India 1:19.772 91.

Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1:20.219 56.

Daniel Ricciardo Toro Rosso 1:20.694 57.

Michael Schumacher Mercedes 1:20.794 26.

Mark Webber Red Bull 1:20.917 39.

Kamui Kobayashi Sauber 1:21.352 99.

Jenson Button McLaren 1:21.530 50.

Felipe Massa Ferrari 1:22.815 68.

Heikki Kovalainen Caterham, 1:23.178 28.

Pastor Maldonado Williams 1:23.271 25.

Pedro De la Rosa HRT 1:24.209 36

[thewookster]

Ok the second day at Jerez will start soon.

Mercedes - Lewis Hamilton

Marussia - Luiz Razia

McLaren - Sergio Perez

Ferrari - Felipe Massa

Caterham - Giedo van der Garde

Toro Rosso - Daniel Ricciardo

Red Bull - Mark Webber

Sauber - Nico Hulkenberg

Lotus - Romain Grosjean

Williams - Pastor Maldonado

Force India - Paul di Resta (3rd driver to take on the last couple of laps if all being well)

[thewookster]

Where's jorinde when you need her and her F1 enthusiasm

[thewookster]

second day testing times

1 Romain Grosjean (Fra) Lotus-Renault 1:18.218

2 Paul di Resta (GB) Force India-Mercedes 1:19.003

3 Daniel Ricciardo (Aus) Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:19.134

4 Mark Webber (Aus) Red Bull-Renault 1:19.338

5 Nico Hulkenberg (Ger) Sauber-Ferrari 1:19.502

6 Lewis Hamilton (GB) Mercedes 1:19.519

7 Sergio Perez (Mex) McLaren-Mercedes 1:19.572

8 Felipe Massa (Brz) Ferrari 1:19.914

9 Pastor Maldonado (Ven) Williams-Renault 1:20.693

10 James Rossiter (GB) Force India-Mercedes 1:21.273

11 Giedo van der Garde (Ned) Caterham-Renault 1:21.311

12 Luiz Razia (Brz) Marussia-Cosworth 1:23.537

[jorinde]

I'm reallyyyy annoyed...F1 is going behind the decoder here So I'd have to pay 16 euros a month for 2 or 3 races per month

[swampy]

Feb 13, 2013 14:28:41 GMT -6 jorinde said:

I'm reallyyyy annoyed...F1 is going behind the decoder here So I'd have to pay 16 euros a month for 2 or 3 races per month

It's about time you made a post here... 

[jorinde]

Lol, it really was     

[kry]

Why don't you watch F1 online?
(ask in priv if want help)

[thewookster]

Well Practice sessions 1 and 2 are now complete.

Red Bull, Ferrari and Lotus all looking quick.

McLaren have had 2 shocking sessions and the car seems to need a heck of a lot of work.  But it seemed from interviews that they already knew that beings though they took a risk to build a completely new car so it will take a few races to get up to speed I think.

60% chance of rain for qualifying and the race so the grid and race result could be a bit topsy turvy.

But if it stays dry then I would expect the winner to come from Red Bull, Ferrari or Lotus.