I seriously hope that wasn't aimed at me.
F1 2009 Season discussion/development thread
- Thread starter Duke
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I seriously hope that wasn't aimed at me.
Testing Times - Day 1 - Circuit-de-Catalunya
http://www.f1today.nl/live-update/2009/03/09/circuit-de-catalunya/
http://www.f1today.nl/live-update/2009/03/09/circuit-de-catalunya/
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The teams been around for the last 4 years or so and already have a steady fanbase. From a fanboy point of view, not much has changed bar the name.
I'm optimistic that if the bigger teams are sangbagging or fuelling high, then the times may meet in the middle and we'll see a pretty even field this year, but as ever nobody can say anything till the chequered flag at Melbourne where race distance and conditions have been tested.
The flag had dropped but forgot there would still be a few on track, so the times changed a bit. Updated and looks the same as Autosport nowOdd, those are different times to what pitpass and autosport have reported?
Soldato
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i hope buttons good run continues
At the point your comment was made, McLaren might have done more laps (one the day), but they are firstly, without their talisman (Hamilton) and secondly, since testing began with the new (2009) cars, BMW are the ones who have completed the most miles, along with Ferrari.
It generally stands to reason that the team who has managed to complete the most miles, will have an advantage over the teams/cars/drivers who have done less miles. The testing times today have bourne this theory out.
I'm concerned for Hamilton's title defence as I think McLaren are genuinely struggling.
What is encouraging is the speed of the Renault. This means that Alonso might actually be able to go for podium finishes from the word go.
Although test times cannot be relied upon 100%, they are a very good indicator as to what will happen during the season. Sandbagging makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.
I've read somewhere that McLaren have a private test scheduled for next week - I'm still hoping that they have some amazing development that nobody else has stumbled upon that will give them the edge come melbourne, and maybe it's there, in private, that they'll evaluate it properly.
Either that, or they've done another MP4-18.
Either that, or they've done another MP4-18.
That wasn't quite what I was trying to get at. I agree completely with your view that a couple of quick laps, possibly with fumes in the tank, doesn't mean "championship", but equally you can't deny that after almost a full year of development while still being owned by Honda, there is a possibilty the car might just have hit a sweet spot. Nobody has a clue what will happen this year until the first race, it's that simple. Surely you can't be saying people aren't allowed a little cautious optimism either.
Percentages say, no, the car won't be winning races. I was just curious if there was a specific reason you feel they will fail, or if it was as simple as not being overly impressed with the whole situation.
Please don't think I am one of the "football mentallity" F1 fans, such as deko seems to be. I like to hear what everyone thinks
.Do you mean on a test track? If so, isnt that against the rules?
Fair enough. But how do you explain the fact that McLaren seemed to be a little off the pace, when Hamilton was the driving the car. There is no way in hell that he would've backed off the pace. In fact, when he drove it last week, he pushed so hard, that he ended up going off the track!
Associate
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Brawn GP - another underdog to support! 
And everyone knows the Brits love an underdog.
And everyone knows the Brits love an underdog.
Most people believe that Honda will be at the back of the grid of the reason because they are behind most other teams in the development curve. They first designed a car to fit a Honda engine, then they made a radical switch to a Mercedes engine.
Moreover, while they were developing/building a car, they had no idea what budget they would be working towards and whether their car would actually race this season. They were an unsettled team.
In addition to the above, they dont have a top line driver (McLaren have Hamilton, Renault have Alonso, Ferrari have Massa/Kimi, BMW have Kubica).
All this suggests that they will struggle in 2009.
However, Honda's flat speed hasnt been too bad, based on their test time today, so I'm not so sure about writing them totally off...yet.
The one thing they forget is this is the first car 'directed' by Ross Brawn, the man who helped Ferrari to a handful of WC! Yes I know 1 man out of 700 doesn't account for much, but the man is a winner and he knows how to make a winning car; I think we are just about to see a stunning realisation of this fact (hopefully) this year!
For the people who want to know the rule changes but cant be bothered to read up watch this, looks bloody brilliant haha
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYzgGTALx3w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYzgGTALx3w
Was it not Rory Byrne who was designing the cars at Bennetton and Ferrari...?
Brawn does bring a whole winning package together, however, what Honda are lacking (even if they end up with a decent car), is a top line driver. At Bennetton and Ferrari, they had the best driver of all time. At Honda, they have Barrichello (who was comprehensively demolished by MS) and Button (who seems content to compete at the back of the grid).
You can't compare Honda to Ferrari/Bennetton.
Deleted member 66701
D
Deleted member 66701
I disagree. It seems to be a nationalal sport to diss Button and also to write off Barrichello for being too old. I however wouldn't be making any bets against either of them this season.