F1 2005 Season Thread

[g force]

I felt a biot sorry for the Jordan boys TBH - the car is a stinker and they've put two rookies in to detract from it.

I thought Albers was the most impressive rookie - his first qualy was a gutsy performance in a very poor car. I suspect he'll be on his way to Sauber at some point.

Good GP - very weird to see cars not having their tyres changed, but Fisi was in control of that race and the Renault is backing its testing times with great performance and looking after its tyres.

Thought Williams, Toyota, McLaren were all disappointing.

 

[red rose]

Not so much of the normal silliness there normally is at the first race what with reliability issues but the next grands prix will be an entirely different matter I reckon.

Interesting tactic by BAR at the end of the race

Favourite bit of the grands prix was the ITV reporter in the pits says "Yes James I'm down here at the BAR garage and the irony of being stuck behind jaques villeneuve and unable to pass him is not lost on them"

 

[Red Faction]

The danger of threatening to remove motorsport from Australia is a very risky move because the legal systems in civilised countries across the world would probably reach the same decision as the Supreme Court in Melbourne.

I dont understand how.
Minardi want to race, minardi are breaking the rules and are disqualified.
The court says they are breaking the rules, but should be alloed to take part all the same.

Its a ridiculous judgement- why would any other country have a judicial system that would make a decision like that??!!

Personally tho, if minardi arent doing any harm, if they are prepared to pay their ££ and they arent going to win anything, and the majority of the other teams dont have a problem with minardi, why bother excluding them?

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Why did the Grand Prix change from September (or October?) to March? Too wet or something?

 

[Wowbagger]

Good race, although the quafilying was just that. It'll be interesting to see how the new qualifying system works when it's got constant conditions.

 

[Ich bin ein Mod]

Why did the Grand Prix change from September (or October?) to March? Too wet or something?

Are you taling about the fact that the Aussie GP used to be the finale and is now the curtain raiser for the season? Dunno but it's been like that for years now.

 

[Wowbagger]

Didn't they change it at the same time they shifted it to Albert Park from Adelaide?

 

[GarfieldLeChat]

I dont understand how.
Minardi want to race, minardi are breaking the rules and are disqualified.
The court says they are breaking the rules, but should be alloed to take part all the same.

Its a ridiculous judgement- why would any other country have a judicial system that would make a decision like that??!!

Personally tho, if minardi arent doing any harm, if they are prepared to pay their ££ and they arent going to win anything, and the majority of the other teams dont have a problem with minardi, why bother excluding them?

as i understand it minardi (like ferrari) were given dispensation to race using last years car then they were told they were allowed to race then they were told they were then not then they went to the court...

 

[g force]

There's a slight difference - Ferrari are using last year's chassis, but with the 05 engine and aero package. Minardi just wanted to run the 04 car, then amazingly managed to do the work in a night.

I used to like Paul Stoddart but he's becoming a bit of prick....but at least he's standing up to Max and Bernie. No matter what they think, F1 needs more private teams like Minardi and Sauber but eventually they'll be priced out of F1.

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

How to make F1 exciting again, by beesonthewhatnow


Scrap the new qualifing system, and bring back the old way where everyone was out on the track at the same time, with unlimited laps.

Scrap fuel stops, but allow tyre changes.

Reduce downforce. A lot.

Bring in a point for fastest lap.




Discuss

 

[g force]

Okay Bees.

Qualifying: agreed
Fuel: I quite like the tactics involved with this. Keep 1 set of tyre for the race rule.
Downforce: No idea TBH - it doesn't seem to make much difference
Fastest Lap: Nope - a point for Pole is a better reward.

My 2p:

1) Scrap the $48m bond for joining F1.
2) Ban Tilke from designing, or god forbid changing, any more circuits.
3) Spa must always be on the calender!
4) Introduction of customer engines and chassis - Ferrari can carry on if they wish, but a new team should be able to join with a chassis from Dallara or whoever and their pick of engines - Toyota, Ford, Honda, BMW, Renault, Mercedes, plus others ie, Audi/VW. Selling the engines reduces overall cost and encourages them to make engines available (in theory...practice may be different)
5) Linked to #4 - the introduction of an engine championship - splitting constructors between chassis and engines - a la IRL/CART.

 

[wordie]

A good explanation of the weekends political shenanigans here!

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

Okay Bees.

Qualifying: agreed
Fuel: I quite like the tactics involved with this. Keep 1 set of tyre for the race rule.
Downforce: No idea TBH - it doesn't seem to make much difference
Fastest Lap: Nope - a point for Pole is a better reward.

But not allowing fuel stops will make for tactics - will drivers go flat out at the start, try and build up a good lead, or will they be more conservative and try to keep some for a flat out finish? Bringing back turbos would amplify this, but I can see form the safety point of view that this is a no no, the engines make stupid amounts of power as it is.

Downforce - cutting it a lot will bring back the days of slipstreaming and the ability to be nice and close in corners. You'd see loads more overtaking into corners that previously would have been impossible.

A point for fastest lap would encourage racing right until the end of the race, no more cruising around holding position for the last 10 laps.

 

[kyser_soze]

Well, my nomnation for underdog team of the year has to be RBR...having been tifosi all my life and seen the wanky behaviour of Ferrari fans in Belgium last year, I've decided to pick two teams to support this year - For me it's Renault of the front runners and RBR of the minnows.

 

[red rose]

That was an absolutely brilliant race, I hate to say it but not having ferrari tearing off into the distance does make it easier to pay attention to everything else going on on the track.

Driver of the race would have to be either heidfeld who admittedly got a bit lucky or raikkonen who was more than a bit unlucky.

Very satisfying to see everyone sweating and struggling in the heat and then seeing them interview michael at the end to see him looking comfortable and calmly and objectively and cool as a cucmber

Don't know how much more of james allen's utterly crap commentry I can stand though

 

[g force]

I hate James Allen Brundle is class though.

I'm loving the RBR results - Klien has impressed me a lot, great composure for a young kid. Really can't see how Luizzi will get a drive - maybe whne Sauber kick JV out!

Once again Webber proved he has the pace but absolutely no race craft whatsoever...he shoudl have waited but didn't and went out.

 

[wordie]

Really can't see how Luizzi will get a drive - maybe whne Sauber kick JV out!

Luizzi would have to be better than Jacques, but I reckon Sauber are lining up Davidson for the rest of this season.....

Once again Webber proved he has the pace but absolutely no race craft whatsoever...he shoudl have waited but didn't and went out.

That's a bit hard doncha think? Fisi wasn't on the clean line, was driving way too fast, had screwed his tyres and had effectively lost the corner to Webber.... who was merely doing what he's paid to do, overtake when he can. I don't think you can blame Webber's racecraft for Fisi trying to copy Ralf Slomaker's similar stupidity ...

 

[g force]

Nah Webber's done this before - get's annoyed and then makes a stupid mistake. He was still fuming after Ralf's lunge at the same corner.

If he'd taken his time he could have easily passed Fisi within a few laps, but was obviously feeling the pressure from a charging Heidfeld. The difference with the second accident was that Fisi was ahead into the braking zone (unlike Ralf who came from nowhere) and Webber squeezed him, Fisi locked up on the dirty side of the track. The Renault was going backwards in that race, and Webber clearly had the quicker car

Kimi showed him how it should be done - pressure the guy for a lap, keep your line and wait for the mistake. Webber just isn't used to the big race pressure - he had absolutly no expectations in Jaguar because everyone knew they were shite, but now he has a quick team mate in a car that although not a championship contender, is a potential race winner.

He needs to start proving he's as good as he says he is.

 

[Wowbagger]

Wow. There was more actual racing in there than I've seen in any of the past four seasons put together.

 

[wordie]

He needs to start proving he's as good as he says he is.

You don't like Webber then?

Even though Fisi has just got a wrap across his knuckles from the stewards? I say again, Fisi would have lost the car and been on the beach, if Webber hadn't been there to act as a a doorstop!

Still, I agree that Webbo's probably feeling a bit under pressure from Nick. And TBH, I've always thought Nick was quicker than he's had the chance to show. Untill now that is.

 

[g force]

I don't have a problem with Webber...but he's hardly set F1 alight. He's very average at the moment. Has huge potentia as h showed at Mercedes and then Minardi but at the moment I see nothign to suggest he could challenge MS, Fisi, Alonso, Kimi or even JPM.

 

[denialworks4me]

I think we may be jumping the gun here, ferrari are yet to bring their new car into race and Honda have obvisously brought theirs out to early... Will we see tese two teams claw back mid season, i think so, i hope so in the case of BAR

 

[g force]

Can't see BAR doing anything for a good few GPs - the car doesn't handle well and tends to blow up. It's lakcing top speed comapred to Sauber and RBR.

Ferrari's new car will of course be quicker, but I think everyone has been surprisde by MS' lack of pace - even Rubens is outpacing him I mean, this is the guy everyone said was so good he could win in an aeverage car. Well, now he has one, and fighting down in 7th/8th suggests the car was a big part of the success.

I imagine Bridgestone have been getting a bollocking already, as Michelin seems to have done their homework on the new rules and the Renault's in particualr seem kind on the tyres over a full race distance.

 

[wordie]

I mean, this is the guy everyone said was so good he could win in an aeverage car. Well, now he has one, and fighting down in 7th/8th suggests the car was a big part of the success.

.... either that, or he's got nothing left to prove by struggling with a dog. If the new Ferrari is competitive, I think we'll see MS going for it again, although I hope that doesn't mean he'll continue to use his Hill/Villeneuve/Heidfeld trick when he's under pressure!

 

[tom k&e]

How to make F1 exciting again, by beesonthewhatnow

Scrap the new qualifing system, and bring back the old way where everyone was out on the track at the same time, with unlimited laps.

Scrap fuel stops, but allow tyre changes.

Reduce downforce. A lot.

Bring in a point for fastest lap.

Discuss

1. Fuck yes
2. Aka back to the early 90s. Not sure what this would really achieve except slowing down cars on the first half of the race.
3. The manufacturers will revolt as that means losing the rear wing & its associated advertising revenue...
4. A la NASCAR. Again, why?

My rules would be thus; Engine size limit 5 litres, superchargers, turbos & nitrous allowed, no minimum weight, no driver aids, ground effect & active suspension legalised. That would liven things up a bit.

 

[kyser_soze]

Good to see my underdog choice of supporting RBR is bearing fruit...

Webber is a tosser who shouldn't be driving for a top flight team. Apols but that's just how I feel.

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

1. Fuck yes
2. Aka back to the early 90s. Not sure what this would really achieve except slowing down cars on the first half of the race.
3. The manufacturers will revolt as that means losing the rear wing & its associated advertising revenue...
4. A la NASCAR. Again, why?

My rules would be thus; Engine size limit 5 litres, superchargers, turbos & nitrous allowed, no minimum weight, no driver aids, ground effect & active suspension legalised. That would liven things up a bit.

It'd kill a few drivers as well....


3 - Needn't lose the wing (although it would be smaller), you can lose downforce in other ways

4 - To encourage drivers to keep going for it right to the end, rather than cruising if they have no chance of gaining a place.

 

[denialworks4me]

Can't see BAR doing anything for a good few GPs - the car doesn't handle well and tends to blow up. It's lakcing top speed comapred to Sauber and RBR.

Ferrari's new car will of course be quicker, but I think everyone has been surprisde by MS' lack of pace - even Rubens is outpacing him I mean, this is the guy everyone said was so good he could win in an aeverage car. Well, now he has one, and fighting down in 7th/8th suggests the car was a big part of the success.

I imagine Bridgestone have been getting a bollocking already, as Michelin seems to have done their homework on the new rules and the Renault's in particualr seem kind on the tyres over a full race distance.

Honda have identyfied the engine problem, it was a oil leak which affected both engines, they applied the same 'fix' to both cars hence the fire. They have a fast car this year and aero package, they need to just work on the reliabilty. Im sure they will be mighty pissed seeing toyota take a podium which will push them for better results. I have faith in honda and they are bound to get it right. They have the budget, resources and more importantly the people to find a fix !

 

[tom k&e]

It'd kill a few drivers as well....


3 - Needn't lose the wing (although it would be smaller), you can lose downforce in other ways

4 - To encourage drivers to keep going for it right to the end, rather than cruising if they have no chance of gaining a place.

Killing drivers is a good thing, it stops one of 'em for dominating for a decade.

I don't think anyone is going to get a fastest lap at the end of the race with fucked tires and whilst knackered, but it could work.

 

[Ich bin ein Mod]

Killing drivers is a good thing, it stops one of 'em for dominating for a decade.

I don't think anyone is going to get a fastest lap at the end of the race with fucked tires and whilst knackered, but it could work.

1. I really hope you're kidding
2. Low fuel load