Top story today http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/news/2009/...-as-team-boss/ With the bad press Ron has been getting I guess no big suprise.

 

I think Ron is burned out, with the spy crap and the divorce, the guy needs a rest. I never ever believe the press, and only listen to what comes from the guy himself before I form an opinion. Ron seems like a genuine guy, his breakdown on camera (with his wife at his side of all things) in 2007 and his happiness as Lewis won last year shows that he is a real person with feelings. The pressure on him to run that organization must be massive. Martin will do good, he's kind of a "standard British businessman" if there is such a thing.

Now Bernie and Max......that's a different story, those guys are a-holes even when on camera.

 

I hope it was his choice and not forced. It was like the man could do not right in the last 2 years and seemed with all of the penalties the team took makes you wonder if Merc wanted and a new face.

 

Just looked through the launch pics for Ferrari and McLaren. I liked that Ferrari had some of the car on the track but the other ones were just awful. It looks like it was all green screen and photoshop. I can't even tell if the drivers were in the same room as the car, my guess would be no. And even though there is a reflection of the car on the floor the car still seems to be floating above the ground. I know everyone is trying to save money but McLarens' photos game out much much better and it could not have cost them more money.

Toyota also launched and there pictures are somewhere in the middle of the awful Ferrari and good McLaren ones. The only weird thing is that Kobayashis' head seems to be floating, one dimensional and cut in half in one picture(the one with him in the drivers seat).

 

I can't see him going to Renault. The car's not there. He'll either retire or go to McLaren. I think he could get along with Hamilton faster than Alonso. He certainly wouldn't play second fiddle to Alonso, and Alonso certainly wouldn't play second fiddle to Massa. But is it a given (and not just a massive rumor) that Alonso will go to Ferrari, and not somewhere else? Or that HE won't retire?

Stupid question time, but have the tires always been "staggered" as seen from above? I don't recall seeing that before.

 

I could see Massa going to BMW if he left Ferrari.

 

That is much more likely, IMO. He could be invaluable in helping their development, too.

The only other factor is his loyalty to Michael Schumacher, who mentored him and became a very close friend.

 

How do you know Renault's not there ? Mclaren first is not going to lose Hamilton unless he just absoultely sucks in 2009 and you know that will not happen. Whitmarsh likes him just as much as Papa Ron so no inside problems. Lewis would never agree to having Massa as a teammate after the Alonso debacle, just like Alonso will never have a truly equal #2 where he is at.

That would leave Massa looking for a team, If Bob stays at BMW, Massa won't go there...so where does that leave him ? Renault, c'mon they are the old Benneton team, they are WC material - proven by Schumacher and Alonso.

I don't think Massa will stand a chance with Alonso as a teammate, he's not going to let his career go the way of another certain countryman

 

Just when I thought he can't be a bigger a$$... I read this.

 

Are you seriously surprised though? I'm just curious how many more straws he can pile up before the camel's back finally breaks.

 

Dementia.

That can be the only rational explanation.

 

I can't come up with a more rational one.

 

I was just looking at all the recently launched cars... .
What is up with that hedious looking hump/fin that Renault has above their engine/air intake? Did they just want more real estate to plaster sponsor logos? It completely kills the aesthetics of the car. McLaren, Ferrari and BMW don't have it (or at least not pushed to the limits) and they are the top three!
I also have to say they all look better without so many little wings here and there, but the rear wing looks sooo disproportionate and so does the huge scoop like front wing... one too small, the other too big! I know why they are the way they are, I just think the design aesthetic lost bigtime, and to me that was important also.

 

I agree with you about the Renault. I think all the other cars look pretty good. Renault must think there's something to it and these days if they are getting more $$$ for that space, that's probably pretty important to the program.

We'll see in March I guess.

 

I'm not suggesting that Massa would replace Lewis; I had in mind a substitute for Kovalainen. I don't think Hamilton would have a problem with Massa--I think that was really an Alonso problem. After all, he's never (apparently) had a problem with partners before.

I still think Massa will retire first, especially if he achieves his goal of a driver's championship.

One other possibility--suppose Bernie continues to go off his rocker and Ferrari tells him to go to H3ll? Anything and everything would be up for grabs in that scenario, and drivers, teams, and rivalries would be in for a major reshuffling. We could well be looking at an entirely new race format. Or two.

 

I think that Massa would have a problem with that though. He would clearly be the number 2 driver, and I don't think that he would want that. I think that Kovalainen is almost a perfect driver for Mclaren and Hamilton. He is good enough to get them points almost every race, but not good enough to be a real challenge for Hamilton. Kovalainen may not like it but it work for the team pretty well.

 

Perhaps, but if you want to WIN, you have to have winners. And if Bernie changes the system from (essentially) points to (essentially) trophies, it would make a huge difference who your two drivers were. Kovalainen just isn't that good--after all, McLaren and Ferrari are pretty evenly matched on machinery--it's up to the drivers to bring the championship home, and he's not even close.

 

Wow Daffy, you're awful tough on Heikki, I mean c'mon he's the first Fin in F1 that actually talks, laughs and has a personality......ok, Mika transformed into a pretty likable guy after he got out and Kimi did smile when he won the WC.

However, I disagree, I think Heikki is fast and is WC material, look at his qualifying. As number 2 he always has more fuel, in quali and in the race + you never know if the second car has all the goodies or if it has issues during the race.

The thing is, every team has a numero uno and the 2nd driver will know that. Of course, every driver dislikes being 2nd fiddle but that is the way it goes. They just have to hope that their teammate really blows or unfortunately gets injured, then they have a chance to be the star. It sucks but it beats being their test driver or worse sitting there with the rest of us watching from the bench.

Alonso signed on thinking he was number one and I'll bet you that ego came along with him. Lewis on the other hand came into it as "Wow, I'm finally here !" this is great ! and then the big difference, he continually thanks the team and says without them, he would be nowhere, that I think makes all the difference.

It also doesn't hurt that Lewis is the first black F1 driver. That makes for a good sponsorship too, but he isn't just some show piece, he has delivered in a huge way. The more he is seen on the tube the happier the sponsors are, same reason MS delivered so well and why he got paid so much.

Nope, I still see Massa at Renault, if Williams were competitive, perhaps he'd go there. It will be tough for Massa to go to a "second rate team", Ferrari has always been the pinnacle team to drive for, regardless if they were winning or not.

My prediction for 2009

1st - Lewis (he has the fire and now the experience)
2nd - Massa (He's got it and it will be close)
3rd - Alonso (Renault is going to leave Alonso feeling like he shouldn't leave)
4th- Kubica (BMW will have a great car but Alonso is the better driver)
5th- Kimi (He'll be like "oh wtf, just pay me and I'll drive - no heart)
6th- Heikki - (Those heavy fuel loads will stay in his car)
7th- Vettel or Quick Nick

Who know, I could be way off but I think Mclaren still have much to prove as does Lewis, he'll want to keep that number one on the car. Massa will want to win and so will the team but you have to wonder about the budget......

Should be another fantastic year and hopefully another nail biter.

 

Okay, here's mine:

1/2--a real tossup. Either could do it; could just be a matter of luck, like Michael blowing a bulletproof engine in Japan, '06. Both want it worse than the other, have teams better than each other, and are better drivers than the other.
3. Alonso
4. Kubica
5. Heidfeld
6. Kimi
7. Heikki

Are we allowed wagers?

 

Wager......sure if I only had 1/10th of Lewis' income

Anxious to see the KERS systems in action

 

Mine:

1. Alonso
2. Massa
3. Raikkonen
4. Kubica
5. Hamilton
6. Vettel

I base this solely on driver talent. We have no earthly idea what the cars will be like this year, and what driver will be helped or hindered by their car.

 

1/10th? Greedy, aren't you? I'd be set for life with about 1% of his income!

 

My top 5 finishers:
1.Hamilton
(even if I weren't a fan I would choose him, It will be cool to watch.)
2.Massa (Will try hard, but will make more mistakes than Lewis)
3.Kubica (Could be the surpise, he is fast and BMW looks strong.)
4.Heiki (Will always be near the top (underrated by some.)
5.Alonso or Kimi (The formers, they have it but not quite.)

Vettel will probably not have the car to match his talent this time around, but he will be the wild card if things are out of norm (... as in rain.)

 

Hm-m-m, let's see. KERS is real big unknown. Assuming it doen't throw a monkey wrench into the mix:
1. Hamilton may even be stronger w/o Ron Dennis
2. Kimi because he has something to prove and he's not ready to retire.
3. Vettel should have a better car but it doesn't seem to matter. He drives the wheels off anything he's in. Plus I like that he's the only F1 driver w/o an agent.
4. Massa will have an off season trying to catch Kimi
5. Alonso, I may not like his whiney attitude but the man can drive.

Kubica will have problems this year because he kept bad-mouthing the car last year and I think it's going to come back to haunt him.

All right, let's fire up the DVR. I'm ready for the scream of a 19K rpm V-8.

 

Yes, that's true--a REAL unknown! If Ferrari can have near misses just with their little light doo-hickey, I'd be really worried about KERS. And one of BMW's people did get a bad shock last year. Who's to say it won't happen again to any of the teams.


Yes he is.