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: 01 March 2004 by Rasher
quote:
Originally posted by JeremyD:
my impression is that the current crop of drivers is, on average, the best ever.
You may well be right - I haven't watched it for a few years.
Posted on: 01 March 2004 by mykel
Thank-you Tony.
I will keep an eye out for it.
regards,
michael
Posted on: 02 March 2004 by HTK
I think the worst thing that happened to F1 in the UK was ITV geting the rights. They've made a complete pig's breakfast of it and dumbed it down lower than footie.
It HAS been boring for some years but not last season. No by any measure. The world champion was not a forgone conclusion, and with some electronic aids being removed this year, it might even get a bit better.
It's tedious to se one team or driver always at the front. It was the same with Prost and Senna, and Mansel the year he won. Schumacher is probably still the best F1 driver alive and I wouldn't take anything away from him. My problem is that he plays dirty, and I suspect Ferrari do to. Why break rules and be a shit when you've got all that tallent?
I don't care who wins. I just enjoy the skill and spectacle (of which there was a lot more last year). I think either Ralf of Kimmi will get it this year.
If only it would go back to the BBC
Cheers
Harry
Posted on: 02 March 2004 by Basil
Bring back F1-digital, superb coverage.
Posted on: 02 March 2004 by Haroon
I agree about the adverts, but do think on the whole the coverage is better on ITV. Theres just a lot more to it than what the BBC had. ITV I think have brought it upto date, where as I feel BBC is far too fuddy duddy/conservative in areas like sports and news - for dad or grandad.
Posted on: 02 March 2004 by Tony Lockhart
Maybe one day the TV companies will employ a team of motorsport enthusiasts. That way we might avoid such silly situations as watching the whole field make its way through the first corner when it looks like the lead cars are really battling...out of shot. Happens every race.
Tony
Posted on: 14 March 2004 by Markus S
... and certain British teams do what they do best: complain ...
Posted on: 15 March 2004 by Rasher
Yeah Markus:
David Coulthard on the Melbourne race (ITV.co.uk):
McLaren must improve in every department, David Coulthard has said. The Scot said it was unfair to blame McLaren’s dismal performance in Australia on any single element of the MP4-19 package. Coulthard insisted work was needed across the board to make the team competitive. He told the Daily Telegraph: "We have the infrastructure to get it right - getting it right in time is the issue. "It's not rocket science. We need more power, more aero and more mechanical grip. The car is just not fast enough.” But Coulthard said that tyres were the biggest factor in Ferrari’s superiority a Melbourne. The Bridgestone was unquestionably the tyre to have at Albert Park, but the situation was exacerbated by the fact that McLaren chose too hard a compound of Michelin rubber.
Right…So nothing to do with him then!
Tosser!
Posted on: 15 March 2004 by Markus S
I don't think Bridgestone was the tyre to have - Ferrari did well, but where were the other Bridgestone teams? I think the Michelins were definitely not worse than the Bridgestones, but the Ferrari cars were so much better than the competition that they probably would have won on offroad tyres.
Posted on: 15 March 2004 by Tony Lockhart
Looks like it'll be in the mid 30s this weekend at Sepang, so Coldturd must be hoping it rains so he has an excuse for Schuey leaving him by miles.
Oh, and there are rumours that Ron Dennis is retiring at the end of the year. Wonder if Davros Williams will chuck it in too?
Tony
Posted on: 15 March 2004 by Rasher
Frank Williams & Patrick Head watch another season slip into the grasp of The Penguin & his team
Posted on: 15 March 2004 by HTK
I know Williams' injuries were self inflicted, but even for a broad minded forum such as this, cripple bashing is taking things a touch far I think.
Cheers
Harry
Posted on: 15 March 2004 by Haroon
Hmm how did williams get injured?
Posted on: 15 March 2004 by Basil
In March 1986, Williams was paralyzed in a road accident near the Paul Ricard racing circuit. He has been confined to a wheelchair ever since.
Posted on: 16 March 2004 by Rasher
Frank Williams is the grumpiest, hardest, most critical and unpraising team manager, and Patrick Head seems to be with him on all those points. Their drivers go through Hell. But I see your point and I apologise if it was taken as "cripple bashing", which was not intended, but in hindsight, dodgy. Sorry.
Posted on: 16 March 2004 by Rasher
This man is a God, and he isn't ashamed of showing his joy and admiration of his drivers either.
I take it that it's OK to call him The Penguin then.?
Posted on: 16 March 2004 by HTK
Yep. Williams is the grumpiest git in F1 and has a reputation for treating drivers like shite. Booted out Hill after he brought a world championship to the team and pretty much destroyed Frentzen. Gave Button the heave ho for JPM - although I think that was both on the cards from the start and included a return ticket at a later stage.
Mind you, now I come to think about it, most of the other teams do this. With the possible exception of Jaguar, they seen to be much nicer about it - although the results are the same.
It's tough at the top. Or so I've heard.
Cheers
Harry
Posted on: 16 March 2004 by Brian OReilly
"treats drivers like shite.."
or keeps them in their proper place once their egos start kicking in ?
Are these Prima Ballerinas really worth so much more than the aero/chassis/engine designers ?
Frank says no, Patrick says no, Brian says no.
Brian OReilly
Posted on: 16 March 2004 by Haroon
quote:
Originally posted by Brian OReilly:
"treats drivers like shite.."
Are these Prima Ballerinas really worth so much more than the aero/chassis/engine designers ?
Brian OReilly
Sorry but at the end of the day when theyve done all their work its the driver who has to carry the weight of the team and its they who risk their lives.
And what about the genius of Ross!
Anyway, a dull start to the season - start eating my own words now
Posted on: 17 March 2004 by Rasher
No, I disagree. The season is only just beginning & I still have faith it will be a corker.
Ross is more than a genius - he is a God!
Just think what they were, and what they are now. They are a dream team from Todt to Ross, to the guys who make the bacon butties.
I love 'em. I want them to win - but I want it to be interesting too.
Posted on: 17 March 2004 by Tony Lockhart
I gave up supporting the underdog years ago...it makes the weekends dreadful.
Oh, and now Michelin are warning that their tyres might not perform in Sepang!
Tony
Posted on: 17 March 2004 by Tony Lockhart
Just read that there is going to be, as from Bahrain, a 15 minute break between qualy 1 and 2. Deep joy, the most boring bit just got longer!
Tony
