2006 F1 Season

[Roy]

I am excited about the coming F1 season. Has Alonso hurt himself by announcing his change so early. Briatore is backing Fisi saying that this years car has been developed around two drivers, not just what Alonso is looking for in a car. Supposedly the reason why Trulli and JV thought the Renault was so difficult to drive.

Changes at Williams, McLaren, Sauber-BMW and perhaps the biggest changes at Red Bull and the old Minardi. Toyota looking menacing and McLaren losing staff, and plagued with V8s that like to go BOOM

So many things to look forard to. Hopefully JV,Webber, old DC and Trulli can get up there this year...and most interesting of all is we get a chance to see how good Button is. For the first time in a long time he has a good yard stick to compare himto, with Rubens already going quick in the Honda.

Oh, and thank god this tool is gone...Thank God Pizza Bioy is out of the equation, he was a hack and waste of an F1 possie.

[Beer Baron]

yeah pizza man is goooooone.

c'mon webber do me proud. i have yet again dropped a bundle on primo grandstand tickets for the melb GP so webber better bloody deliver!!! lol.

[Snowman]

This is always the most exciting time in F1.

It all goes down hill from the first race onwards.

But despite this I too am looking forwards to it all getting started. I think the red ones will be back up there again this year.

Speak of them - Rossi was pretty impressive yesterday.

[Amaru]

Testing times from earlier today:

1. Alonso - Renault - 1:11.219

2. Button - Honda - 1:11.327

3. M. Schumacher - Ferrari - 1:11.831

4. Montoya - McLaren - 1:11.998

5. Barrichello - Honda - 1:12.062

6. Kovalainen - Renault - 1:12.113

7. Villeneuve - BMW Sauber - 1:12.619

8. Zonta - Toyota - 1:12.660

9. Rossi - Ferrari - 1:12.856

10 Coulthard - save Bull - 1:12.883

11. Wurz - Williams - 1:12.925

12. Paffett - McLaren - 1:12.937

13 Webber - Williams - 1:13.050

14 Trulli - Toyota - 1:13.076

15 Kubica - BMW Sauber - 1:13.332

Noticed Webber and Wurz seem to be falling down the pack compared to a few weeks ago in terms of speed (where they were #1 runners with Renault on the V8 engine). Alonso has been looking pretty well paced through all of the testing sessions, so I wouldnt be suprised to see him on the top again. Only time will tell I guess

[Roy]

Testing times dont mean a lot, they are testing different parts, tyres, fuwl loads etc etc... I am surprised to see the BMW/Saubers consistantly up there though. Williams have popped up with a quick time here and there, but the Toyotas and Hondas do seem to be up the top consistantly. LOL it seems that way every year, come the season though the usual suspects normally emerge...could this year be different?

Also, Rossi did well, only 1 second off MS. Though he was in a 2004 V10 car, so an equivelant tiem could be as much as 4 seconds slower, who knows?

[Amaru]

Yeah but slow testing times means theyre testing a bad package, which could have an influence on the overall season. If theyre having bad times at the end of testing (due to aero, or engine etc) chances are the problem wont be fixed before the first race

[Roy]

Yeh, who knows. Or they are working on the speed of the car with heavy tanks, tyre endurance over 20-25 laps. Or they could be running low fuel, everything they have and really be a second off the pace

[Beer Baron]

yeah that's true, but they will have to wind it up at some point!! lol.

c'mon webber, dont let us down

[Paradizzle]

I hope Webber is the shit this year!! Hopefully Williams/Cosworth can actually do something! Im not sure about Cosworth engines (POO). Im with you Beer Baron, hope Webber wins some races.

[ctjet]

i hear Mclaren is f*kd... they lost three of their chief designers to RBR and the red scum team

oh well maybe in another 5 years

[Silver-Arrowz]

It's not looking good for maccas. And this is probably the last year Kimi will stay with them. However Williams is looking promising. Old Frankie managed to get a few sponsors onboard so lets hope he sticks it up to BMW.

[Roy]

Yeh McLaren looks to be abotu to go through the same thing they were goign through when they got Mansell etc on barod..hard times!

Not sure about Williams yet. But if Renault, Ferrari, Toyota and Honda are as strong as they look...Williams , RBR, McLaren and BMW will be lucky to break into the points regularily

[Bleach1]

I think the cars this year look like SEX! Look back to say the F2002 compared to the new Ferrari 248 and compare the difference with all the small aero tweaks and details. Williams has taken the air box size rules to the extreme and simply made the airbox as small as possible for the V8 and simply added a shark fin sort of thing to the back of the air box, i hope it doesnt fly off in a crash! The Mclaren has unbelievable front suspension and has gone to a no keel configuration which a few other teams have also gone to with the new cars but none seem to have done it as neatly as Mclaren. The Toyota and the Midland cars are the only dull ones in my opinion which seems to be pretty much right up Toyotas ussual design phylosophy on all its road cars.

I think Mclaren will still be up there this year. I have a feeling it will once again be Renault, Mclaren and Ferrari fighting for the championship. Unfortunatly i think Williams and Webber will struggle this year but as long as they beat Super Aguri it is ok

Speaking of Super Aguri, check out their web page I hope their web development isnt a relfection of their up comming car development!!! http://www.superaguri-f1.com/

[MONTOYA]

I think 2006 is going to be a good year for RENAULT,HONDA,McLAREN and FERRARI.

Honda will win a race this year for sure. They are showing well and putting alot of mileage on both cars.They will have two cars fighting for wins. rubens is quick straight out of the box and will win a race,mybe more and beat jenson this year but not by to many points

Renault i think will be the early pace setters as alonso is flying and is always in the top 3 at testing.Fissy will do ok but i dont think he can beat all these new young guys every fortnight for 8 months or so.He might win a race but not a certainer.

Schumacher and Ferrari will most likey be on the pace or pretty close. Ferraris new car seems to be pretty quick.I know it got a bit boring for a while when Ferrari were always winning everything in sight,but id like to see Schumacher win 1 more title and retire this year.Because their isnt a better driver in the world.Massa..... well what can i say...I think hell get a podium or 2. Hes not my favourite driver out there,i just dont think hes quick enough to be a Ferrari driver, even if it is as a number 2.Schumacher will destroy him! lol.

Mclaren proberly wont win the first race because of their new V8 but will soon be chellenging for wins and the title.this might cause them to have a simalar year to last.lets hope not.Montoya will be be a lot closer to Raikkonen and this will be a great fight to see who keeps their seat.Mybe. Montoyas my man so i hope he wins the title.but Kimi is super quick and probly the quickest out their so he'll be in the running for the title AGAIN.

Williams will do ok should get some podiums but wont win unless somthing strange happins.Webber needs to focus on himself and have a solid season.hes quick enough to win but has never had a car that can win,and will beat Nico Rosberg Nico is going to be pretty quick for a rookie and i think we'll see alot of him over time to come.he'll give Webber a hard time,but make some silly mistakes.If Webber dosnt beat Nico hes F1 career might look a bit sour.

Toyota could throw up a surprise this year but im not shaw about them.I want them to win races and titles but dont think its gona happin this year or next.Ralf should beat Trulli.Not much to say here.

Red bull will be around but nothing special. Klein needs to give DC a ass whiping if he wants top teams to look at him but wont happin.DC is fast and will be too good for his car again,but is getting a bit old and should have won a title but ohwell, just wasnt good enough in the end.

BMW Sauber will just keep their heads down and get on with their job of developing the car and team, and be battling with Williams and Toyota fo best of the rest.Qiuck Nick should be to good for Villeneuve, but Villeneuve might suprise if he likes the car but has pretty much lost that racers edge.

MF1,Super Aguri and Toro Russo will be running around the back somwhere making noise and getting in the way like always.But as long as their drivers keep coming through with the cash,they'll continue to be around.

Should be a really good year for F1.

Edited February 9, 2006 by MONTOYA

[Roy]

....Ralf should beat Trulli.Not much to say here...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Ralf in my eyes has to be the luckiest guy in F1 at the moment. Not that he is a bad driver. But to be getting paid what he is. To have won so many GPs. To be in the position he is within the team. In my eyes there are plenty of F1 drivers getting around at the moment who have not won GPs for whatever reasons...he aint a hack...but:)

My money is on Trulli again being the quicker more promising driver for the majority of the season.

Who really knows until we get to the 3rd race who will do a good job this year. But my money is on Rubens making JB look like a good driver, not the great driver he has been cracked up to be. Trulli showing the Ralf is the luckiest guy in F1. And perhaps Nico showing what a talent he is in the process of knee capping Webber

I believe Webber to be a better driver then his rsults show, and his pace last year compared to Nick tells me i underestimated Webber a little, but all the talk about Nico is, well very flattering, and he may in 12 months time show he is quicker then Kimi and the rest...a successor to MS. Flashes of that speed will be all it takes to hurt Webbers reputation for being a future WDC given equal equipment

[MONTOYA]

yes all good points you make their Roy.Ralf is the luckiest man in F1 i agree.i think ralf will be on mikes back to build him a car that suits him more and telling Toyota "im Ralf SCHUMACHER".But is nothing like Michael.Trulli is pretty quick and drove really good last year and kicked jnr schus ass untill the new car arrived.from what ive read the Toyota is more friendy towards schuy.but time will tell.Ralf acts like he doesnt care if his car is fast just as long as he gets millions and millions of dollars.

Webber really does have to blow Nico away this year.

[Roy]

Webber really does have to blow Nico away this year.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yep...and will be interesting to see if he can. At the end of the season i dont think it is so important, but he does need to be sure to get the jump on him inthe first 4-5 rounds, and makes sure he is the one in the position to consolidate positions and points, not falling off the track and showing glimpses of speed liek he did last year.

This year its Nicos place to be quick, then fall over, i dont think it will be tolerated from Webber in 2006

[ctjet]

renult is looking strong... f*kers

but the Mac is coming back... 3rd fastest at jerez on the 9th

[MONTOYA]

Mclarens new car.looks pretty dam good.special chrome paint.

Edited February 11, 2006 by MONTOYA

[Roy]

Does look good. Times are lookign good all of a sudden too. Id rather have a quick car that blows up then a relaible slow car. Hope they get on top of it quicker then last year