Head to head: more F1 predictions
Posted by Bill Thomas at 4:00PM on Tuesday 27 February, 2007 16 Comments
OK, here are some predictions for the upcoming Formula One season - I wrote these before Nick wrote his, so my apologies if it doubles up.
If you disagree with any of these predictions, as I know some of the staffers here at Top Gear do, then I'm afraid you're misguided. Sorry.
We'll come back at the end of the season and review this, but what you'll find is that disagreeing with my very accurate and enlightened predictions now will be an error because I'm always right about F1. Always.
I have a £20 bet with Mr Turner and Mr Harvey here in the office that Mr Kimi Raikkonen will outqualify Mr Felipe Massa by Mr Easily.
For some reason these otherwise-intelligent gentlemen think the Ferrari journeyman will be faster than the dead-eyed Finn. Weird. I am looking forward to being £40 richer in November.
Anyway, here are my predictions for the upcoming season, which is 17 races long. Remember, disagreeing with them means you're wrong, although I'd welcome your thoughts if you think differently.
QUALIFYINGKimi vs Felipe: 12-5 to the Kimster. Raikkonen is just too fast. Maybe it'll be 14-3.
Fisi vs Heikki: 11-6 to the Heikkster. He'll get it together later in the season and be a demonic Finn.
Fernando vs Lewis: 14-3 to Fernando. Or maybe 15-2. Alonso is a demon, Lewis a rookie.
Kubica vs Quick Nick: 10-7 to Quick Nick. Heidfeld will rise to the occasion - he is fast.
Jarno vs Ralfy: 11-6 to Jarno. Trulli's too strong over a single lap, a maestro. Ralf not so good.
Wurz vs Nico: 10-7 to Nico. Tough one, this. Wurz is quick but Nico should be quicker.
Coulthard vs Webber: 12-5 to Webber. The Aussie is an exceptional qualifier, Coulthard ordinary.
Button vs Barrichello: 11-6 to Button. His smooth style will suit the new tyres.
Davidson vs Sato: 9-8 to Sato. These guys will push each other hard - an interesting battle.
Speed vs Liuzzi: 11-6 to Liuzzi. Should we care about this pair? No, not really.
Albers vs Sutil: 13-4 to Albers. Though people reckon Sutil's a bit of a force. DRIVERS' CHAMPIONSHIP
1st: Raikkonen. He'll fit in at Ferrari just fine, they'll give him a car that works well on the new hard Bridgestone tyres and he'll disappear into the distance to win the championship he deserved to win a few years ago.
2nd: Alonso. If he's given a good car, he'll fight all the way - he's that sort of relentless driver. But the real question mark is over the technical ability of the car and its fragility.
3rd: Kovaleinen. Not sure Fisi's got what it takes to be fighting right at the front, so it'll be down to the new Finn to carry Renault's torch - the car will be strong. CONSTRUCTORS' CHAMPIONSHIP
Ferrari. The car will be better than the McLaren, which might be a bit fragile, and Renault probably won't have the drivers to match Raikkonen, unless Heikki turns out to be a demon in the Hakkinen mould.
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16 Comments for "Head to head: more F1 predictions"
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Personally, I love it. It's not only striking and will stand out among the field, but it looks back to the pre-68 seasons with no reminders slapped all over the car that money rules F1 now rather than passion.
I pretty much agree with your predictions but I do think it's worth keeping an eye on Kubica.
He can be quick and seems pretty fearless. I'll certainly be putting my wedge on Raikkonen to take the championship, with a side bet on Heikki as a runner-up.Hamilton 2nd in the driver's championship, Walrusman?!!!! You think Hamilton in his rookie year, in a notoriously fragile car, is going to beat the might of Raikkonen and Ferrari with their more-than-proven combined record of speed and reliability? You must be barking mad.
I dont know how much you Brits value F1 predictions from the US, a country where the sport is overshadowed by a saloon racing series called NASCRAP or something, but here goes nothing:
Firstly, traction issues aside, I'm really stoked to see Kimi in a reliable car this season and I wouldn't be surprised if he pulled off the driver's championship as you predicted. Second, anyone who has seen Alonso drive has to admit, el hombre can drive consistently. I see him coming in behind Kimi no matter what machine he is in. The issue of third place is more ambiguous. Kovalainen is supposed to be pretty quick, but it's all about reliability and consistency and I give this to Massa, despite several driver errors in 2006.Lastly, watch for the Beemers to keep pace with the leaders field and maybe even give them some trouble. Wanna share that 40 quid with me, now?Consider it an electronic handshake via email, you poor delusional messed-up mutha'.
Alonso is about to find out why Kimi has been so frustrated at McLaren for the last few years. The car won't be good/quick/reliable enough, though he'll drive the skin off it. I'll definitely take the tenner on Fisi, but you don't really mean that Nick, do you? You don't seriously think that Fisi is that crap?Virtual handshake in progress.
Deep down, I actually think that the Newey/McLaren divorce is going to result in a more reliable car for Fernando. So I take your comments on board, but generally wipe my ass on them and give 'em back.I like Fisi. Interviewed him a few times. He has good hair. Racer's hair. But he's like Alesi. Great natural talent, but give him the complex equation that is a modern F1 car and he can't fathom it out. He's also prone to frankly embarrassing lapses in concentration.I think he's had his moment. And Piquet Jnr is already proving as quick in testing, and his commmercial/marketing value is off the scale.And while we're throwing money around, let's have a bet on the top three for Melbourne. I'm saying:MassaAlonsoKimi And there's another tenner on that, if you'll take it.No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
Top three finishers in Melbourne will be Kimi, Massa, Alonso (if the car lasts - if it doesn't, I'll push the boat out and give Kubica the nod for a podium, or pushing it out further, Heikki or Lewis or Fisi).
So let's get this straight - you're saying £20 on Alonso for the championship, and I say Kimi, £10 on Fisi being replaced 'mid season' by Piquet, and I say 'no funking way', and £10 on Massa, Alonso, Kimi to be dwelling on the podium at Melbourne, when I say the dwelling will be done in a different order? Fine. All bets are null and void if we're both wrong. Unless you want to bet on a winner in Melbourne - your Alonso to my Kimi. That would be easier.Drivers' Championship: Alonso, Massa, any other
Makers': Ferrari, McLaren, BMW
It seems that you're forgetting that Hamilton and Kovalainen are rookies, so when they win a race this year, it will already be a huge performance.
Massa has proved to be a winner in his debut year at Ferrari. Kimi and Alonso are starting in new teams with all the problems that come with it. Fisico is fast, but has not been so consistent. BMW seems fast in testing and Heidfeld is up to the job. So here my predictions: 1. Massa 2. Kimi 3. Fisico 4. Heidfeld 5. Alonso 6. KubicaLadies and Gentlemen.Take this seriously, Heikki and Hamilton haven't had a single Formula 1 race experience and there are other very good drivers out there such as Button, Trulli (remember season 2005), Barichello, Webber and Massa.
Do you honestly think that they will perform so well in the first rounds? The answer is simply NO! Get realistic boys.
As for me the driver's championship:
1. Raikonnen/Alonso (they are fantastic drivers)
2. Button/Massa
3. Trulli
Constructors:
1. Ferrari
2. McLaren
3. Honda/Toyota