2007 predictions? what's yours

[Davis K Powers]

I'm really looking forward to this years F1....
Here's my predictions..

2007 Champ:
In a close battle with the Renault of rookie Heikki Kovalainen, Kimi Raikkonen in the Ferrari will win overall champion. (long overdue)

(New) guys to look out for:

Heikki Kovalainen- dude is damn quick. Even beat M. Schumacher in the Race of Champions (06) in his own Ferrari Modena. He's officially my favorite driver. I think he will the the highest placing rookie and might be the darkhorse of F1.

Lewis Hamilton- everything this guy has driven, he's beat everybody. First year in the F1 seeder class of GP2, he beat everyone. If he's patient, and the McLaren rocket is working, he could be a threat each race. Top 5 contender for sure.

Felipe Massa- Wait a second, he's not new! But it would be very easy to oversee the little man as the attention always went to the Schumacher god. Before Ferrari, he was a hotshot with the underfunded Sauber team. He drove the wheels off that car which was about 150hp short of the McLaren's. He's been one of my favorites since he started F1. Last year Massa got the good car and won easily in his home race in Brazil.

The "once was good but will be forgotten group":

* Sadly, Rubens Barrichello, the true gentlemen of the sport, never got to be a #1 man at a team and will slowly fade away at Honda with 1 time winner, Jenson Button.
* Adios Fernando Alonso, it was a good 2 years. New team and hotshot teammate will embarrass the 2 time champion.
* David Coulthard, Giancarlo Fisichella, Ralf Schumacher, you've won before, but it probably won't happen again.

The Great American hope:
Scott Speed This is your year. While we can't expect a F1 win, a consistent top 6 is not unheard of. You are getting a new engine and a new chassis that is both nearly top of the line. If you don't pull it off this year, it will probably be over. (there was talk this past winter of him not getting a seat in 07) There are just too many well qualified European hotshots F1 drivers waiting to come in. Please do well.

[ShortysTRM]

Neither STR driver has been confirmed for 2007, so let's just hope Speed gets a seat. This year's cars will definitely be an upgrade, but I still wouldn't consider them a contender. In the world of backrunners, they're very fast, but it'll likely be a while before they're consistently in the top 8. Though I wouldn't consider either driver to be the greatest in the series, they're both exceptional and should remain in their seats for 2007.

All of the cars are more aerodynamically efficient this season, as the engine homologation rules have slowed, but not completely stopped, engine development, with narrower side pods being the most notable aerodynamic difference. Most teams have significantly reworked their engines in an attempt to take advantage of the new 19,000rpm rev limit and to squeeze the most out of their mandatory 2.4l V8's, as the 3.0l V10's are no longer an option. Cosworth is no longer involved as an engine builder, but is expected to come back to F1 sometime soon. Their plan to set a new world record in Brazil in 2006 by averaging over 20,000 rpm's for the duration of the race was destroyed when both Williams-Cosworth cars were knocked out of the race due to damage originally stemming from contact between the two teammates.

When Bernie Ecclestone, CEO of Formula One Management and Formula One Administration, was asked who he thought would win this year's championship, he replied “I wouldn’t like to put my money on anybody, but I think if I had to, I would probably put it on Massa. I think Massa’s got a good chance. You’ve got to have a whole package, it’s not just the driver but a package.” I think Massa's a great driver, and is obviously in a great car, but I think his personality is what truly amazes me. He's very modest and respectful, and he still cries every time he wins a race.

Kimi is poised to really do well this year. It will be interesting to see what he can do in a car that will actually finish a race without some type of failure. I can't stand his personality, though, so I hope he finishes a consistent second, only to Felipe. I guess that's why they call him the Iceman.

I think McLaren has a chance this year, but I always say that, and they always let me down. The car's beautiful, and the drivers are capable, but I'm still not convinced that they will have the reliability that is necessary to win a championship. They do, however, have the driver, and I think it'll be sad to see Alonso fall off the map. If you compared him to his 2006 teammate Giancarlo Fisichella, who was a consistent driver himself, you could see that it wasn't just the car that won Alonso two straight world championships. I don't know enough about Hamilton yet to make any judgements.

As for new cars, they've all been beautiful, though their color schemes may not be. The Renualts looked great until their new liveries were applied, after which they became a jumbled mess of clashing colors. The Red Bull cars have a unique look this year, but the Scuderia Toro Rosso cars still haven't been released, and they're the only team without a confirmed driver lineup for the season. The only other team to not have released a car at this point is Super Aguri. These are also the only teams running "customer" cars, which have been engineered by the Red Bull and Honda teams, then sold to the smaller teams.

I think my vote for most improved appearance goes to Spyker, whose new car looks as good as, if not better than, anything else released thus far. They've established a recognizable color (orange), executed it in a tasteful manner, and designed a beautiful car. Though it may not be the fastest car out there, and will likely compete for the title of the slowest, the triple-planar front wing and bright orange and black paint look menacing nonetheless.

I'm definitely excited about this coming season, which is a far cry from the "F1 is no longer interesting" attitude I had after Schumacher finished his last race.

[SentraWV]

2007 Champ:
In a close battle with the Renault of rookie Heikki Kovalainen, Kimi Raikkonen in the Ferrari will win overall champion. (long overdue)

What about Alonso at McClaren? Should be a really interesting year.

[SeanB]

My predictions for 07...

All of Kimi's interviews will be close captioned.
Button will claim to win more races.
Alonso will enjoy the success of the done blown up syndrome.

Predictions for 08...

If the whole Microsoft and F1 deal goes through then Alt Ctrl Del will be a standard feature on all cars, Microsoft will also install a phone in each car so drivers can call up tech support.

[Random_WRX]

I have no idea whats going to happen. Will Mclarens relibility still be a problem and make Alonso look bad for leaving Renault. Are Renault cars really that good or did Alonso squeese more out of them then there accutully was.

Kimi isn't the only change at Ferrari this year will the cars live up to those of the past 10 or so years. Will one of their drivers be the "#1" driver or will they try to win the constructors championship with their 2 great drivers.

Can Renault be competitive with a rookie and Fisi

Will Toyota get it together.

Will Williams be better with Toyota power in the back.

Is Webber good enough to show what Red Bulls got.

Will STR pick some drivers.

Can Button be more consistant.

Can Kubica continue the great start to his F1 career, and will the BMW-sauber be a top contending car.

Will the Super Friends team still be the back markers.

I think the championship will come down to Kimi and Massa at Ferrari and it will be a coin flip as to who wins it.

[Jason V]

As a long time lover of F1 I predict that the trend towards more and more boring races will continue and like last year I will only watch the races that are not on at 3 am...(I still like watching but only when it takes little effort) trust me watching 9 year old kids race Karts is a hell of alot more exciting!!

BTW I think it may be a McLaren year!! Speed GT and Touring will continue to be some of the best racing on TV... I will still cry when I hear WRC results knowing I can't watch on TV.. and Drifting will fade further and further onto the back burner with other short lived trends (except japan and perhaps cali)

[SeanB]

Why cry over the lack of WRC on tv when its on the web... ;)

http://enormouslysideways.net/DoubleUAreSea/

[Davis K Powers]

What about Alonso at McClaren? Should be a really interesting year.

"* Adios Fernando Alonso, it was a good 2 years. New team and hotshot teammate will embarrass the 2 time champion."

Don't get me wrong, I like Alonso, but the perfect package isn't there anymore and his new rookie teamate is set for one goal only...beat Alonso

[sts 50]

Has anyone seen a TV schedule yet? If the Australian opener is on at a reasonable time (ie: starting before midnight), I'm having a season opening party. If you can read this, you're invited. Stay tuned!

[SentraWV]

According to Speed (http://www.speedtv.com/articles/auto/formulaone/35342/), STR has confirmed Liuzzi, but Scott Speed has "contractual issues" that are keeping him from being announced yet. He supposedly has first crack at the other seat, but still . . .

NP: Leger de Main, The Concept of Our Reality

[ShortysTRM]

Yeah, things are looking bad. I'm guessing that the "contractual issues" are that Speed signed a contractwith STR, and they don't want him to drive for them.

[Davis K Powers]

Yeah, things are looking bad. I'm guessing that the "contractual issues" are that Speed signed a contractwith STR, and they don't want him to drive for them.

I think he's got the seat, but he's probably just going for a 1yr contract and not a multi-year. With the idea that a bigger/better team will pick him up after 07. We shall soon know.

[ShortysTRM]

Just thought I'd post the results from the 2nd and 3rd day of testing in Barcelona. I think today was the first day this year with all 11 teams participating. Look closely, there's a few big surprises.



Barcelona F1 testing times – Tuesday:

1) Massa, Ferrari (B), 1:21.181, 107 laps
2) Raikkonen, Ferrari (B), 1:21.719, 154
3) Kovalainen, Renault (B), 1:21.819, 99
4) Alonso, McLaren-Mercedes (B), 1:21.901, 63
5) Fisichella, Renault (B), 1:21.997, 129
6) Hamilton, McLaren-Mercedes (B), 1:22.078, 118
7) Kubica, BMW-Sauber (B), 1:22.100, 56
8) Trulli, Toyota (B), 1:22.227, 96
9) Rosberg, Williams-Toyota (B), 1:22.249, 10
10) Wurz, Williams-Toyota (B), 1:22.288, 55
11) Montagny, Toyota (B), 1:22.476, 96
12) Heidfeld, BMW-Sauber (B), 1:22.618, 92
13) Barrichello, Honda (B), 1:22.669, 85
14) Button, Honda (B), 1:22.816, 91
15) Webber, Red Bull-Renault (B), 1:22.916, 83
16) Coulthard, Red Bull-Renault (B), 1:23.322, 50
17) Davidson, Super Aguri-Honda (B), 1:23.969, 97
18) Albers, Spyker-Ferrari (B), 1:24.425, 108


Barcelona F1 testing times – Wednesday:

1) Coulthard, Red Bull-Renault (B), 1:21.855, 112 laps
2) Heidfeld, BMW-Sauber (B), 1:21.958, 96
3) Massa, Ferrari (B), 1:21.964, 92
4) Alonso, McLaren-Mercedes (B), 1:22.103, 114
5) Rosberg, Williams-Toyota (B), 1:22.280, 86
6) Hamilton, McLaren-Mercedes (B), 1:22.292, 125
7) Raikkonen, Ferrari (B), 1:22.369, 45
8) Montagny, Toyota (B), 1:22.446, 107
9) Fisichella, Renault (B), 1:22.758, 90
10) Kovalainen, Renault (B), 1:22.783, 56
11) Webber, Red Bull-Renault (B), 1:22.834, 61
12) Button, Honda (B), 1:23.061, 91
13) Barrichello, Honda (B), 1:23.257, 39
14) Wurz, Williams-Toyota (B), 1:23.275, 39
15) Vettel, BMW-Sauber (B), 1:23.569, 56
16) R.Schumacher, Toyota (B), 1:23.789, 82
17) Albers, Spyker-Ferrari (B), 1:23.947, 87
18) Sato, Super Aguri-Honda (B), 1:24.568, 123
19) Liuzzi, Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B), 1:26.822, 30

[Random_WRX]

Go red bull. If the team can keep up development through the year they could score well this year

[Hillbilly]

Heikki's the man

[SentraWV]

Scott Speed update (http://www.speedtv.com/articles/auto/formulaone/35538/):


The reason behind Scuderia Toro Rosso’s delay in confirming Scott Speed as its second driver for the 2007 season is a possible lack of full commitment by the American, team co-owner Gerhard Berger told autosport.com.

According to the Austrian, Speed and teammate Vitantonio Liuzzi – who’s already secured his seat for next year – were thoroughly reevaluated during the winter, but the Italian’s reaction to that process was more positive.
That doesn't sound promising. :(

NP: They Might Be Giants, Dial-a-Song

[ShortysTRM]

That doesn't sound promising.

STR team co-owner Gerhard Berger goes on to say:

"I have to say Scott is still on pole position [for the 2007 STR race seat]. I believe that with his natural talent he can do a reasonable job."



"But he is not at a talent stage where he doesn't need to work."

"He needs also to bring a commitment. If he has this, and he shows this, no problem. I think we will be very happy with the two guys."

[sts 50]

Shades of Michael Andretti...... Does Scott live "over there"?

[ShortysTRM]

It's official. STR has confirmed Scott Speed as a 2007 race driver.

[Davis K Powers]

phew!
Now go out there and kick arse!

[ShortysTRM]

Well, Honda's new livery was finally released...

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/02/hondara107_hi.jpg


I'd definitely say it's different. I kinda like it, though I won't know for sure until I see it going 190+.

[SentraWV]

That's . . . interesting. :confused:

[ShortysTRM]

Rumor has it that you can donate to the website and your name will be placed on a pixel (yes, one pixel) that makes up the earth motif. No idea on the cost, though.

[Davis K Powers]

Can someone say "Google Earth" sponsorship coming!

[Random_WRX]

with microsoftalready involved is see the MSN live local sponsorship