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Zylka
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Your thoughts of this season so far? F1 was in a real crisis after Ferari 1 - 2002, which was quite possibly more boring than a season of basketball.
Now after the new points scoring standard and the first 5 of 16 races, we have this shaping up for Austria:
WINS:
Australian - David Coulthard McLaren-Mercedes
Malaysian - Kimi Räikkönen McLaren-Mercedes
Brazilian - Giancarlo Fisichella Jordan-Ford *On a COMPLETE bullsh*t technicality, robbing Kimi Raikkonen of the win and potentially championship deciding points
San Marino - Michael Schumacher Ferrari
Spanish - Michael Schumacher Ferrari
DRIVER'S CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS:
1 Kimi Räikkönen 32
2 Michael Schumacher 28
3 Fernando Alonso 25
4 Rubens Barrichello 20
5 David Coulthard 19
6 Ralf Schumacher 17
7 Juan Pablo Montoya 15
8 Giancarlo Fisichella 10
9 Jarno Trulli 9
10 Heinz-Harald Frentzen 7
CONSTRUCTORS' POINTS
1 McLaren-Mercedes 51
2 Ferrari 48
3 Renault 34
4 Williams-BMW 32
5 Jordan-Ford 11
6 Sauber-Petronas 8
7 BAR-Honda 6
8 Toyota 3
9 Jaguar -Cosworth 2
10 Minardi-Cosworth 0
My thoughts on the developments:
Kimi has proved to be more than Mr. Consistency this season, and surely a future world champion worthy of the title (try this season, perhaps?). It's astonishing how he basically got into F1 after only 26 proffesional races, in leagues not considered to be safe pre-cursors of experience (Formula Renault, the latest of them - and he legally wasn't allowed his intro seat at Sauber until they changed the rules). With a slight lead on Schumi a third the season through, and a "quantum leap" ultra late 2003 chassis sceduled for the end third... It will be a championship between the Bavarian. Either way, ultra calm this kid who looks like he's 14 has the racing world in surprise - and I hope he takes it all and closes the Mika Hakkinen book. A little bit of a step backward today, rear-ending a Minardi and all - but this Fin is top class 
Nothing much to say about Michael Shumacher, other than Ferrari recieved its astonishing 2003 car today so most expect him to be on top at least until the new McLaren arrives (which is a good several races). This is the most successful f1 driver ever [I don't want to hear any nonsese about JMF in racing the unexercised grease monkeys driving glorified go cart days ]. He won two weeks ago on a day preceed by the news of his mothers death, and has done it again today on rails with challenge only from an underpowered rookie driven Renault.
Fernando Alonso stands in third so far this year... uh, Fernando WHO??? Didn't he off-season test for midfield teams or drive for MINARDI 2 years ago or something like that? Shy Spaniard, 21 years of age, surprise pole sitter at Malaysia (even ahead of his experienced teammate and highly regarded qualifier Jarno Trulli) and absolutely on his game - he stunned todays' Spanish GP placing second - just behind the blistering F2003gpa Ferrai of Michael himself, yet ahead of the Second Ferrari of Rubens Barichello. I don't think he quite has championship possibilites for this season... but as I've always mainted, Renault are going to be the team at top for a several year reign quite soon - and young Fernando might be the one dueling Kimi when Michael et. all eventually retire. The last thing I want to see is Fernando lured to Ferrari as they tried with Kimi, because being second fiddle to even Michael is enough of an inferiority complex to drag the next Ayrton Senna/Juan Manuel Fangio/Whoever down.
Barichello and Coulthard battle it out for 4th spot, how exciting - next! Although I do feel it a shame that it seems nice guy David probably won't ever have his time at the top, even with the promises in McLaren's next future.
Ralf Schumacher and Montoya quarrel it out for best of the rest on and off track - Williams was to be the team to challenge for dominance this year (with a lot of success and wins preceding), yet their chassis has failed them miserably. Rumoured to have the most powerful engine in the field, it's odd a team like Williams would screw up badly enough to void such an advantage. It's now near apparent Mike Gascoyne's work on the Renault has made for better aerodynamics than the beautiful BMW, making the Chasis' in comparison roughly:
McLaren (2003 launch at Silverstone)
Renault~Ferrari
Williams
???Sauber~BAR~Jordan???
BMW has even threatened a move to the little Swiss SAUBER team for the '04 season; yet I doubt something that drastic will come - especially with Saubers dramatic decrease in overall performance this year.
Am I the only one absolutely appalled that:
A - Ginacarllo Fisichella was given his first win at Brasil due to a safety crash halted race, simply because he was leading the pack at the red flag by credit of being a pit-stop behind? Is it just me, or was that the case - and his car would have slowwed to a stop on the tarmac three laps later, or pit and ended up a deserved 17th when the race was completed?
B - Gianni and the Irish JORDAN team were actually celebrating it with PRIDE??? Sure, I'd accept the win for monetary reasons, but not act like the greasy b*cth Gian and Eddie were
Now I've stopped following driver standings at 8th, but as a Canadian have to note Jacques. Mark another notch in the "dissapointing seasons since 1997" for this Canadian fan, just like the frustration JV vented on his helmet after stepping out of a Honda failed BAR today. The BAR is supposedly quick, and Jacques has been filling it fuel heavy in qualifying to skip pit stops during the race. This plan has been his standard for 2003, but never seems to bear fruit due to engine failure. Honda are starting to get their act together speed wise, but they just simply aren't lasting the race.
You are viewing the worst car in the history of Formula1. Please proceed
I'd love to see Villeneuve go to Renault next year, but doubt that will happen even if Alonso left for greener pastures or Trulli underperformed and was given the boot. The only team other than BAR probably willing to pay his exorbadant salary would be TOYOTA - Rich boys of the field, so here's my earlier than expert opinion that Jacques is more than likely to waste away at TOYOTA or the laughing stock BAR (I still have hope for a double world championship for him though... PLEASE Renault)
Thoughts on this season so far? I'll start up a fantasy F1 thread for March 2004 if there is enough interest... and it looks like there's enough in the air of the new Formula 1 to provide
Last edited by Zylka on 05-05-2003 at 10:39
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Zylka
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Would they have been saying the same things knowing me while at the same table?
Didn't think so. Although "MUMMIES PACKED BROWN BAG LUNCH" isn't as fun to break glasses on ones face as a tray of hard peas and hot gravy.
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Zylka
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Of which are most often made up of nearby residents, spotting mummys delight DUDE
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Sir Og
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Lurking in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
Jun 2001
time: 07:27
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Well as far as 2003 F1 championship title is concerned I think that Shumacher can only loose if he gets injured or something.
And this season is a lot more interesting than the last couple of seasons. Although it is mainly due to the unlikely technical difficulties that Ferrari experienced in the first two races.
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Zopperoni
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Raikkonen skid off the track in Qualifying, and crashed onto Pizzonia's car at the start of the race.
Maybe he's not as cool as people think.....
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Zopperoni
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I don't know...langlaufing and bowls seem more boring to me...
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Alex
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Brasil
Mar 1999
time: 02:27
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Very well.
Schumi will have a hard time this year. The F12003-GA apparently is not so powerful as the incredible F12002 was. After all, he finished the race in Spain only 5 seconds ahead of Alonso, and he only managed to put 9 seconds between him and the Spanish (on lap 58, IIRC). That means that this car is not so incredibly fast as the last one, but... Schumi is a magnificent pilot, he's able to squeeze out all he can from the car, contrary to Barrichello, whom always seems to have a hard time, no matter the car.
Raikkonen is good, but he is not that good. Mika Hakkinen was better than him. David is destined to be always in the supporting cast. I don't think he'll ever be world champion.
Montoya and Ralf are clearly in trouble this year, especially because the huge boost in Williams' performance last season has not been confirmed so far in this season.
And the new rules seem to be somehow arbitrary... It's almost as if they wanted to create a set of rules meant to complicate things for Ferrari. Yes, the last two or three seasons have been tedious, but this season is artificially highlighting teams and drivers that would never be in any top spot anyway.
But I like how things are going, and the qualifyings and races have been much more interesting to watch than before.
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Zylka
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quote:
Originally posted by Buck Birdseed
Zylka: There are rumours that British-American Tobacco are dropping out of the BAR team next season, creating a new pure Honda team. Which might not be a bad thing- apparently their new chief executive is a huge F1 fan and will ramp up the investment. |
Problem for the Canadian fan is whether or not they'll keep Jacques on for this opportunity. Jenson has basically been treated as the little British darling of the team this season, although he's a terrible driver who only looks as good as a light fuel qualifying lap. Far as I know, Jacques is popular in Japan... and that is a big thing for coporate clientele. Maybe they'll bring back Takuma Sato or Shinji Nakano to fill the seat at his side?
That would be for the best I believe, as the laughable BAR history has already tried constant "change" to promise results. A full blown Honda team would *undoubtedly* make for a C-Champ car, and probably the biggest budget ahead of direct rivals Toyota. It also seems the path of the future now, with the Jaguar, Renault, Toyota, and Ferrari teams building both engines and chassis. 10 years down the road, I imagine McLaren to be a Mercedes team and/or Williams the only "club" team left on the pack
Speaking of which, I've already mentioned my picks for chassis:
1- McLaren (+2003 launch at Silverstone)
2- Renault~Ferrari
3- Williams
4- ???Sauber~BAR~Jordan???
Anyone agree or disagree? Here are my engine picks as per apparent performance and rumour:
1- BMW
2- Ferrari
3- ???Mercedes~Renault???
4- Honda
I'd like to hear yours... and for Zop and the others, Kimi is 23 and after learning to go-kart participated in only 26 minor formula races. If you've raced even a go-kart competitively and looked into racing school, this is an unthinkable path into Formula 1 - and if you don't think he's already developing stronger a driver than Mika by landing a seat at McLaren and challenging for the crown in his third year, well....
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05-05-2003 10:25
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