Every season we all say the same thing – “this season is going to be incredible” – and every year since 2000 we have been disappointed. With the notable exception of the 2003 season, F1 has fallen into a familiar pattern of dizzying pre-season hype followed by the return to reality. But this season might just buck the trend, and for good.
Pre-season testing is rarely an accurate barometer of real performance in F1. The fact Ferrari pound around Fiorano during the winter months makes direct comparisons incredibly difficult to judge. And yet many insiders, who really should know what they are talking about, are getting incredibly excited by the performances of Renault and McLaren in pre-season testing.
So what does MotorSportForum expect from the season?
Schumacher – unfortunately it is hard to see past the record-breaking German. What is more disappointing however is the manner in which Ferrari will take the 2005 championship.
The current F1 points system was engineered specifically to stop Ferrari dominating. In 2003 it worked by effectively devaluing race wins, handicapping Schumacher in the process and allowing Kimi Raikkonen to take it to the wire with only 1 race win. In 2005 it is highly likely that Ferrari and Schumacher will not be the fastest combination and probably not even the second fastest either (shock).
These accolades will be fought over by Renault and McLaren but as rival teams have pushed the engineering envelope to catch Ferrari, reliability will be a factor. Coupled with the new two races per engine rule and the 2005 season could see rival teams thrash Ferrari on outright pace but suffer reliability issues. So while Schumacher may not win more than 1 or 2 races this season, his bullet proof Ferrari will allow him to collect regular podium places with a different Renault, McLaren or BAR-Honda driver on the top step.
But for most F1 fans this kind of ultra-competitive season would not be too bad – races would be more entertaining with a few teams fighting it out for victory. F1 spectators have been depressed and disappointed by Ferrari’s dominance because it has been so easy – few would grudge Schumacher his multiple championships if every one of them had been won in circumstances similar to 2003. As long as the German has to pull something special out of his box of tricks to win, few would grudge him another championship.
Shock of the season
A tie between how badly Williams-BMW perform and how much Red Bull Racing achieve. Williams have been well-off the pace pre-season, as in previous years, and it looks very much like half a season of development work will be needed to reach any level of performance (as with the past 2-3 seasons). Is there a pattern emerging for the British team that will leave Patrick and Frank scratching their heads?
Red Bull Racing on the other hand could well be the dark horse for points and perhaps the occasional, attrition induced podium. David Coulthard has much to prove and seems to have grown in stature and confidence in his role as team leader and wise ‘old-hand’. (Were any evidence required check out the recent pre-season testing images of DC sporting an unkempt and greying beard).
Aside from a fired-up and relaxed DC performing to his best, aided by aggregate qualifying, Cosworth look like producing a rather neat and powerful engine. Despite the Ford sale upheaval, Cosworth engineers seem to have been quietly getting on with the business of producing an effective customer engine for RBR. Red Bull Racing may well capitalise by doing the basics well in a season when top teams are going maximum attack to catch Ferrari.
2005 Race Winners
Could 2005 see the most diverse list of race winners for decades? MotorSportForum certainly believes so. Expect Michael to take a few wins, with both Renault’s and both McLaren’s figuring season-long. BAR-Honda will win a race in 2005 but not until the second half of the season as the team finally unlocks the potential of their clever chassi design and the dangerously powerful Honda engines become reliable. Williams-BMW? Forget it!
Fingers crossed for a phenomenal season of F1!
Back to F1 News & Discussion Page
Back to Main Page
Visit
Linksheaven! The Motor Racing Directory
© 2000 motorsportforum@yahoo.co.uk