The F1 season 2004

Posted by: Markus S on 29 February 2004

Here we are, one week from the first race of the season, and I must say I'm really looking forward to seeing some racing again.

A few thoughts - everybody thought Ferrari would be off the pace this year because of their decision to stick with Bridgestone. So far, the 2004 car seems to overcome any tire-related handicap nicely. Michael Schumacher shows no signs of boredom, so he should be a front-runner again this year.

Williams - Antonia Terzi's chassis looks good and the BMW engines should again lead the field, but the team supremos are doing their best to piss off their drivers.

McLaren - should be good this year as they had probably the fastest car over the whole season last year and have been working hard to overcome their reliability issues. Somehow, however, they seem to have lost the plot. Maybe they'll find it in time for the next weekend.

BAR - doing much better than I, at least, expected. Shows what can happen if a team gets rid of a driver (Jacques Villeneuve) widely regarded as a total tosser who must have been terrible for morale.

Renault - also doing better than expected, but doubts over the reliabilty of their brand new engine must remain.

So, who do you fancy for the driver's and the team title?

Posted on: 29 February 2004 by DAVOhorn

Do you think that they will actually race this year?

Or will it be like previous years where who ever gets to the first corner first and subsequently does not break down

WINS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think F1 has lost the plot.

So no longer watch it .

Pity as i have been a fan for very many years.

regards David

Posted on: 29 February 2004 by BigH47

Same old same old.
I watch NASCAR now.

Howard

Posted on: 29 February 2004 by mykel

Don't like roundy-round ( NASCAR )
Don't like Follow the Leader either ( current F1 - but will probably look into see any effect of the rules changes )

WRC does it for me when I can find it. No idea what SPEED channel is doing this year. I know last years coverage sucked compared to the year before....but then again SPEED is NASCAR spelled differently....

regards,

michael

Posted on: 29 February 2004 by velofellow

I gave up on F1 years ago.Moto GP is the motor sport to watch.This year should be particularly good as Rossi will be on a Yamaha and out to show us just how good he is.I reckon he is second only to Hailwood in the alltime list.

Posted on: 29 February 2004 by Martin D

Velofellow
Toatally agree - i've been well into MotoGp fab stuff

Posted on: 29 February 2004 by Tony Lockhart

Coulthard will continue to show what a buffoon he is. Williams will carry on pissing his drivers off.
I won't go to any races, even though the tickets this year are so cheap....3 day general admission to the trading estate, sorry, Silverstone is £90!
After years of loving F1, I take a fair interest and might have my flames reignited if Button can do well.
I saw my first top Bike racers last year, the qualifying at Donington for the MotoGP. Oh my God, those guys have big balls and bigger talent. I'll try and drag myself along this year to the race. Sound better than F1 too, which was the biggest shock.

Tony

Posted on: 29 February 2004 by Rasher

Yup. I agree with all that.
If I watch any F1 it's just to see who gets to the first corner first, then I switch off because I know the result.
Bikes for me too. Only this year I'm going to Donington on the saturday and watching with many beers with some mates and a BBQ on the sunday on the TV. Or even better, find a pub with a big screen. The traffic last year!!!
Rossi on a Yammy? Oh boy...can't wait.

Posted on: 29 February 2004 by Haroon

quote:
Originally posted by DAVOhorn:
Do you think that they will actually race this year?

Or will it be like previous years where who ever gets to the first corner first and subsequently does not break down

WINS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Did you really watch all of last season? I would agree with most here that over the years F1 had become dull and boring, but last year was one of the best ever surely and many who watched it all agree. There were many REAL races and had me to the edge of my seat for the first time in ages. Im really looking forward to this years season, may Ferrari and Shumacher triumph once more

I'll also be gunning for JP Montoya and Alonso.

As for rally its great fun to watch and would love to have a go, but there is no real tension/race as its all time trials. Watch one edited run get the time then another and compare the time - wheres the excitement in terms of competition with that?

Posted on: 29 February 2004 by mykel

Haroon

You do have a point with regard to the time-trial nature of the sport. I guess I'm just in awe of the driving prowess. The in-car stuff just floors me everytime.

I did catch some off-road car race of some nature at one point in time. It almost looked like a motocross type of course. They had some old rally cars running, I do remember an escort cosworth - the one with the huge rear wing. Some pretty good fender banging going on. Any idea what I saw?

regards,

michael

Posted on: 29 February 2004 by ErikL

I agree that F1 is completely lame. Plus very few drivers are likeable.

I like WRC, American Le Mans GT and GTS, and SCCA Touring series'. I also like the rally series that has those huge cargo trucks bombing across the desert. That's cool.

Someday I plan to take up kart racing.

Posted on: 01 March 2004 by BLT

"I must say I'm really looking forward to seeing some racing again."

Then why bother with F1, there hasn't been any racing in F1 for a few years, check out the GP motorbikes instead.

I used to watch F1 races religiously, but in the last couple of years I have (seriously) found it difficult to stay awake throughout the race.

Posted on: 01 March 2004 by Basil

Oh dear, not many Ferrari fans here then! The last few years have been the best.

Posted on: 01 March 2004 by Jay

I worshiped Ferrari when they were losing through the Eighties. Just lost interest when they started winning. Didn't seem natural.

I'll support them again when they start losing again

Jay

Yeah...well it seemed like a good idea at the time.

Posted on: 01 March 2004 by Basil

LOL Jay, it took me a while to come to terms with Ferrari actually winning races again after all those years in the doldrums but I soon became accustomed to it. It's a pity there are so many glum Williams and McLaren fans about who seem unable to cope with it though!

Posted on: 01 March 2004 by JeremyD

If I were Berlin Fritz I would probably say:

"F1?MiiiiiiiaoooooooowZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZinit?

"

Just as well I'm not...

Posted on: 01 March 2004 by Peter Stockwell

Schumacher might be the best ever, but I gave up on F1 about 4 years ago. For a couple of reasons, a) I don't smoke and b) Schumacher.

Peter

User34 at Laposte dot net

Posted on: 01 March 2004 by Markus S

Looks like the British don't like being beaten.

Posted on: 01 March 2004 by davidm

Schumacher is still in a different league to all the other drivers. As stated the Ferrari looks like it will overcome any Bridgestone difficiencies. Driver and Team title to remain there.

Have to admit with all the rule changes, particularly qualifying, I am losing interest. Hardly ever watch the qualifying now as it so boring. Far better the old way when everyone was out trying to get a clear lap to post the fastest time at the end of the session.

As for Nascar, what can I say but absolutley fantastic. If there is a choice between F1 and Nascar, no competition, Nascar wins hands down. Wouldn't have believed it until a couple of years ago, when I started to 'get it' and understand what was going on. They may only go round in circles, but 43 cars averaging 190mph round a track covered by a couple seconds is just great

Music should be 'original' and played 'live'. No more overpaid Karaoke singers.

Posted on: 01 March 2004 by JeremyD

Even if F1 tends to be unexciting to watch there is something about the dedication of those involved and their quest for excellence that appeals to me. I'll try to watch as many races as I can this year, not so much to enjoy them as car races but to capture this spirit.

I have two ideas for making F1 more exciting. One very straightforward and the other bordering[?] on the absurd:

1) Ban re-fuelling. Refuelling was reintroduced to make F1 more spectacular and less predictable. If drivers have a strict fuel limit then it ceases to be a question of driving as fast as they can all the time. In the past, it was often the case that the driver with the best fuel conservation strategy won.

2) Introduce dual lanes at some point in the track. A driver could take the inferior lane and be awarded a small time-bonus. Or they could take the superior lane to pass another driver. [Or they could cross from one to the other and be awarded a suitable penalty].

Posted on: 01 March 2004 by BLT

or

3. Reduce the downforce substantially and make them fit steel brakes. Then we might see some real overtaking again.

Posted on: 01 March 2004 by Rasher

F1 boredom factor is not to do with Schumacher. He is sooo good, it almost makes it watchable, but it's everything else. The rules are wrong. Re-fuelling scuppered it really as it was much better before the dreaded "pit stop overtaking oppertunity". Scrap the pit stops and it would be good again. Oh...and get some good drivers.
Imagine the current F1 cirus without Schumacher. That really would be ZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Posted on: 01 March 2004 by BigH47

Re-fuelling was introduced as a "safety" measure so they did not carry lots of explosive fuel around, instead it gave them an opprtunity to throw it around the pit lane (it's safer there). Designers now only have to make a car for two/three 30/20 minute sprints. A realatively small change in the handling characteristics. Now if they had one set of tyres and ALL the fuel required the cars would be substantially bigger heavier and if coupled to steel disks and non carbon pads and simple wings ie one piece front and rear, then maybe we could have a closer contest.
After last year I also think we should let the mechanics back at the cars after qualifing because they were far too reliable

Rasher I think you have the best drivers you are going get.

Howard

Posted on: 01 March 2004 by Tony Lockhart

Mykel,

I'd say that was Rallycross you saw. It's trying to make a comeback at the moment from its '80s glory.
I worked with a team for a couple of years in the British champs, and bloody good fun it was too.

Tony

Posted on: 01 March 2004 by JeremyD

quote:
Originally posted by Rasher:
Oh...and get some good drivers...

I am the first to admit that my powers of discernment are limited when it comes to sports but, FWIW, my impression is that the current crop of drivers is, on average, the best ever.

Posted on: 01 March 2004 by Jonathan Hales

I dont buy the boredom comment either.

Last season provided some fantastic racing under the new rules and that made the drivers championship the topsey turvey affair it hadnt been since 1999 and the viewing better for it.

This year should prove more of the same with Williams looking to dominate but a resurgent Renault, a strong looking BAR and with Ferrari finding new speed late in the testing season this could be anyones for the taking.

McLaren so far seem to be out of it but you can never underestimate Ron Dennis. Yes Coulthard is past his use by date but Kimi can overcome a lot of car defficiencies just through sheer speed that must still make them competitive. I just dont think we will see this until the circus gets to Europe.