2008 Predictions – Part 3

 

my team predictions for the brand-new season done and dusted, here’s the first part of my driver predictions. And, please remember that this time I haven’t ranked them; just a few lines on what I think is awaiting them.

 

is a race-winner in a championship winning car. There is little sign that Honda’s RA108 will be a huge step forward in comparison to its predecessor, at least in the first half of the new season. So, I’m not expecting any impressive performances from him, until the Honda car gets to a certain level.

actually rate Button as an equal to Lewis Hamilton in terms of pace and race craft. I also reckon Hamilton has an edge in terms of facilities at his disposal to improve himself. This might explain why the ‘perceived’ talent is higher for Hamilton. Jenson Button is currently limited by his car and not by his talent. I believe he is doing as good a job as any other top driver in extracting 100% out of his car. Button can be whatever his car is. Be it a champion or back-marker.

very-good-driver-in-a-bad-car. Fisi’s biggest problem might probably be handling pressure. The pressure I’m talking about here is a bit different. In a race-winning car, a driver will be expected to win races. In a car that struggles to finish in the points, a driver will not expected to do anything other than finish the race with it. Fisi always does the opposite of it, which means he does the unexpected. Which again means that his talent is not at question but his efficiency in extracting everything out of himself is. Expect to see those unexpected performances from him this season.

a bit of an unknown quantity for me. Gascoyne doesn’t fail to talk about this youngster’s ability in his press meets and we can’t dispute him.

ChampCar champ is now in F1 and will definitely be looking forward to making a name for himself here. So far in testing, he has been pretty close to him team-mate Vettel, who is very highly regarded, and thus this is not exactly an inconsequential thing. His race craft should also be champion material and thus his success this season will rely on how quickly he learns the technical aspects of F1.   

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Why Budget Capping Is the Way To Go

F1 currently needs is a compromise between two very contrasting demands. The most important demand of all is the need to maintain its status as the top motor sport category. But then, it also needs to ensure that teams will actually be there to race a few years down the line and we are informed that at the current levels it is not possible to do that. So there you have it, the budget cap. Imagine this for one moment: You’re given 25 lakh rupees to get yourself a nice house. You’re also given two options: you can either build your own according to your taste or you can buy one that is not necessarily built to your taste. Wouldn’t you much rather stick to your own design?

logic here is very simple. In either case, it’s your money that you’re spending. Wouldn’t you want your artistic skills to shine through, using whatever money you’re given? Agreed that building your own house is, in a way, a chore. But, that’s the point, isn’t it. Life is a zero-sum game. If you want to achieve something, you lose something else that you don’t attach too much importance to. 

satisfaction that you get when you’ve done something on your own is immeasurable. It isn’t any different in building a Formula 1 car chassis. Ask any engineer and he’ll tell you that of the two, budget capping is the best idea. And it doesn’t detract from the important issue too, which is to allow teams to survive in F1 and keep racing in the future. 

capping satisfies everyone involved directly or indirectly in F1: team bosses, engineers, technical fans and sporting fans. What more can you ask for?

Technorati Tags: Budget cap,F1

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2008 Predictions – Part 2

Here’s the next prediction list consisting of the next 5 teams in the order of ascending pace.

 

In my view, this is a team that lacks nothing. Well, almost. The resources are plenty, no lacking in the technical department too. The drivers? Enough for the moment but probably may need a replacement once they start sticking to the tails of the top-runners more often. So? A regular Renault challenger this season? You bet.

 

The biggest news bearer this season with the return of the much-hyped Alonso. And all the Alonso-brings-5 tenths-to-Renault is, frankly, laughing stuff. I do think that they can fight season-long with Williams, however. Challenging Ferrari and McLaren? Pah.

 

They seem to be getting back to where they belong. This is one team that I respect a lot. No manufacturer support, relatively limited budgets but still they take pains to design their own chassis and this is most admirable. This is one of the reasons why their way back to the sharp end of the grid is impressive.

 

Like Toyota, BMW Sauber are cash-rich. However, they put it to very good use, unlike Toyota, if I must add. Having gained a reputation for adopting the most aggressive developmental approach, BMW Sauber might make small slip-ups when they push hard targeting the bigger picture. Case in the point, their less then impressive initial pre-season testing form. But, overall, I would say they are the strongest contenders for the last podium spot. I don’t expect them to trouble the red cars but, depending on how McLaren develop throughout the season, might have a sniff at the silver cars.

 

The team that almost pulled it all off last season, if not for one Alonso. Actually I’m quite surprised by how competitive McLaren is showing themselves to be this season. McLaren have, in recent years, had only zig-zaw seasons; one ultra-competitive year followed by one mega-ultra-disastrous year. Last year was great (in terms of performance) for the team. Wonder what this year holds.

 

The 2007 World Champion Team. They’ve so far set frightening pace in testing and start the season as one of the favourites for the title. I think Ferrari will not have a fight on their hands to defend their title. This sums it all. 

 

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2008 Predictions – Part 1

We’ve been spectators to a number of pre-season tests from which very little can be deduced as to the true pecking order of the teams. But still, predictions are meant to be just that. Predictions. The real thrill is in finding out if things go as predicted. So, here’s my expectations ahead of the new F1 season.

 

They’re definitely not the dark-horse of the 2008 season. The fledgling team, with its highly limited resources and development time, are not going to see another 2007 season. Their biggest undoing is going to be their chassis, which is last year’s Honda RA107 and that car was not too popular for its pace. If, even Honda, with its mega-everything resources couldn’t turn their car into anything more than an also-ran, what can Super Aguri do? And I do not have a soft-spot for Super Aguri as I did for Minardi. They’re, in the end a customer team and I’m sorry to say that they may as well save time and money by watching races in their TV. Customer teams are not what F1 needs.

 

Ross Brawn is there but it’ll take its time before his influence is felt. Which means, we can expect to see Honda ahead of Super Aguri. Only.

 

This prediction is about where teams will be, at the end of the season. For this, one year’s development work will have to be taken into account and I don’t see this team going too far. Unlike according to its winter testing promises, I do not expect STR to worry any other team other than the preceding two and the following.

 

What this team lacked in the past was resources. And they’re getting it now. There’s no questioning their technical department’s prowess. I expect Gascoyne and his team to work their magic.

 

I believe that the lack of a ’small’ technical team is what is holding Toyota firmly near the back of the pack, despite their endless pocket. I’m not sure that Toyota will move up the ladder any further this season. We’ve to see how it goes. 

 

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Dear Indians

Ahead of the launch of the definitive 2008 Force India car, I’ve got something to share with my fellow Indians. We might be expecting a lot out of ‘our’ new team–regular points etc. However, we’ll have to keep reminding ourselves that this after all is a team that’s still on the recovery. The resources have just started to flow in and it’ll be a while before the effect will be more pronounced. I would put my money on a year and a half, may be, for assured points finishes. The team definitely shows a strong sense of promise–promise that they are, passionately and enthusiastically, after bigger things. Back to the Jordan ‘99 days? I wouldn’t bet against it.

Vijay Mallya is hugely motivated, Mike Gascoyne is finally getting to get hold of resources with which he could start to work his magic and the drivers are promising. Go Force India, Go!

Technorati Tags: Force India,Vijay Mallya,VJM01,Mike Gascoyne

 

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