The season so far
April 7th 2008 04:28
Ferrari:
Despite a disastrous opening round of the championship, the Scuderia have already established themselves as the team to beat. Kimi Raikkonen was effortless in his demolition of the opposition in Malaysia, while Felipe Massa was otherworldly in Barhrain. While Massa has made a couple of mistakes (spinning in Australia and Malaysia – and the infamous collision with David Coulthard in Oz), Raikkonen has at least shown consistent speed in the Ferrari – putting him atop the ladder in his championship-defending year.
BMW
When BMW rolled out the F1.08 for its first test in the winter, the signs weren’t good. Both Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica were unhappy, and the car showed few of the traits that made it’s predecessor such a good car. It wasn’t until final practice in Melbourne when Nick Heidfeld blasted to the top of the timesheets that BMW finally revealed their hand. They are looking good - second place for Heidfeld in Melbourne, second for Kubica in Malaysia and a third for the Pole in Bahrain. In Malaysia Heidfeld snared the fastest race lap in the dying moments, while Kubica put his car on pole two weeks later. BMW have shown they have a car that is quick at all ends of a race meeting, and have caused a few at Ferrari and McLaren to sit up and take notice. Heidfeld’s consistency in the first three races puts him outright second in the championship, as we head into the European rounds.
McLaren
Ferrari’s forgettable day in Melbourne was good news for McLaren, with Lewis Hamilton shaking off last year’s disappointment with a win. But from there it’s gone a bit pear shaped for Macca. New-boy Heikki Kovalainen managed a podium in Malaysia, but both he and Hamilton were hopelessly outpaced by BMW in Bahrain. The Mp4-22 seems to be a less planted car than the one that nearly delivered the 2007 title – and its clear the team at Woking have work to do to peg the gap to Ferrari – and watch for those speedy BMWs.
Williams
It’s a landmark year for Team Willy, thirty years in the game, and so far it appears they are on the up. Nico Rosberg continues to show his pace and maturity, scoring his first podium ever on the streets of Melbourne. His new teammate Kazuki Nakajima has shown some pace, but was penalised for causing an avoidable accident with Robery Kubica in Australia, and spun off in Malaysia. But, minus the mistakes (Rosberg too clouted the back of Timo Glock in Sepang), Williams are looking to have a package capable of holding its own in what must be one of the most fiercely competitive midfields in an age.
Renault
Despite the return of Fernando ‘six-tenths’ Alonso, Renault are not showing any signs of returning to the glory of 2005/2006. Top ten qualifying results appear to be harder to come by, with a very tight battle for the four spots left after the first rows are consumed by Ferraris, McLarens and BMWs. Alonso has easily stook well over rookie teammate Nelson Piquet Jnr, who is struggling so far. But the double world champion has so far only been fighting for one or two points at a time. Renault really need to find big strides of improvement if they are to stop themselves being dragged further into the scrappy depths of the midfield.
Red Bull
The glitzy, money soaked glamour team of F1 were again busy over the off-season, recruiting talented Geoff Willis to partner Adrian Newey for a formidable design duo. Add to the mix Mark Webber’s sheer pace and David Coulthard’s experience and Red Bull should have a decent crack this year. While both drivers struck trouble in Australia (well trouble struck Coulthard), the pace is there, and Webber has collected some valuable points in the last two races to also prove the car may have just sorted out some of the reliability woes of years past.
Toyota
A horrible year for the Japanese giant last year, especially considering they failed to capitalise when their main rival Honda had an even worse year. But, it’s clear they’ve been burning the midnight oil over in Cologne, and the TF108 looks to be a far better car for Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock to commence battle with. Trulli has reignited the devastating pace that had seemed to have evaded him the last couple of years, with typically strong qualifying results and a nice stack of points from Sepang and Bahrain. Timo Glock meanwhile, hasn’t looked altogether slow, but he will definitely need to lift his game to Trulli’s level if Toyota are to come out ‘best of the rest’.
Honda
Last year was…forgettable. Honda have all but sent all their employees to memory erasion therapy in order to start anew. And with the determination to claw back to the front now helmed by Ross Brawn, Honda are looking far better this time around. Although Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello have been circulating just outside the points – its miles ahead of the back of the grid where they dwelled in 2007. Points can and will be easier to come by this year, and should they continue to work hard at Brackley, they might just push their way into the ever-expanding midfield mob.
Toro Rosso
The team formerly known as Minardi are establishing themselves as the best-worst team on the grid, with both Sebastian Vettel and Sebastien Bourdais making cameo appearances in the high-end of the grid this year. Bourdais dodged the carnage in Australia and was looking set for fourth on debut, while Vettel
Force India
The new owners of Formula Ones ever changing team appear this time to mean business. Yes it’s been said every year, but something about Force India seems…complete. Indian billionaire owner Vijay Mallaya is open about his commitment, and doesn’t have the same misguided business motives of Midland or Spyker. Giancarlo Fisichella has been brilliant so far this year, taking the car higher than expected, fighting the odd Williams or Renault. Sutil has been less impressive – being completely overshadowed by his experienced teammate…but its still early days for this new team.
Super Aguri
Things don’t look good for Aguri Suzuki’s charming little outfit. Sponsorship dramas and general lack of time and funding have put the team well and truly in a bad spot. Adding to the misery is the fact they are running a chassis that in Honda guise was often beaten by Super Aguri’s car last year. Its been a tough start of the year for Takuma Sato and Anthony Davidson…and it doesn’t really look like getting any better either.
Despite a disastrous opening round of the championship, the Scuderia have already established themselves as the team to beat. Kimi Raikkonen was effortless in his demolition of the opposition in Malaysia, while Felipe Massa was otherworldly in Barhrain. While Massa has made a couple of mistakes (spinning in Australia and Malaysia – and the infamous collision with David Coulthard in Oz), Raikkonen has at least shown consistent speed in the Ferrari – putting him atop the ladder in his championship-defending year.
BMW
When BMW rolled out the F1.08 for its first test in the winter, the signs weren’t good. Both Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica were unhappy, and the car showed few of the traits that made it’s predecessor such a good car. It wasn’t until final practice in Melbourne when Nick Heidfeld blasted to the top of the timesheets that BMW finally revealed their hand. They are looking good - second place for Heidfeld in Melbourne, second for Kubica in Malaysia and a third for the Pole in Bahrain. In Malaysia Heidfeld snared the fastest race lap in the dying moments, while Kubica put his car on pole two weeks later. BMW have shown they have a car that is quick at all ends of a race meeting, and have caused a few at Ferrari and McLaren to sit up and take notice. Heidfeld’s consistency in the first three races puts him outright second in the championship, as we head into the European rounds.
McLaren
Ferrari’s forgettable day in Melbourne was good news for McLaren, with Lewis Hamilton shaking off last year’s disappointment with a win. But from there it’s gone a bit pear shaped for Macca. New-boy Heikki Kovalainen managed a podium in Malaysia, but both he and Hamilton were hopelessly outpaced by BMW in Bahrain. The Mp4-22 seems to be a less planted car than the one that nearly delivered the 2007 title – and its clear the team at Woking have work to do to peg the gap to Ferrari – and watch for those speedy BMWs.
Williams
It’s a landmark year for Team Willy, thirty years in the game, and so far it appears they are on the up. Nico Rosberg continues to show his pace and maturity, scoring his first podium ever on the streets of Melbourne. His new teammate Kazuki Nakajima has shown some pace, but was penalised for causing an avoidable accident with Robery Kubica in Australia, and spun off in Malaysia. But, minus the mistakes (Rosberg too clouted the back of Timo Glock in Sepang), Williams are looking to have a package capable of holding its own in what must be one of the most fiercely competitive midfields in an age.
Renault
Despite the return of Fernando ‘six-tenths’ Alonso, Renault are not showing any signs of returning to the glory of 2005/2006. Top ten qualifying results appear to be harder to come by, with a very tight battle for the four spots left after the first rows are consumed by Ferraris, McLarens and BMWs. Alonso has easily stook well over rookie teammate Nelson Piquet Jnr, who is struggling so far. But the double world champion has so far only been fighting for one or two points at a time. Renault really need to find big strides of improvement if they are to stop themselves being dragged further into the scrappy depths of the midfield.
Red Bull
The glitzy, money soaked glamour team of F1 were again busy over the off-season, recruiting talented Geoff Willis to partner Adrian Newey for a formidable design duo. Add to the mix Mark Webber’s sheer pace and David Coulthard’s experience and Red Bull should have a decent crack this year. While both drivers struck trouble in Australia (well trouble struck Coulthard), the pace is there, and Webber has collected some valuable points in the last two races to also prove the car may have just sorted out some of the reliability woes of years past.
Toyota
A horrible year for the Japanese giant last year, especially considering they failed to capitalise when their main rival Honda had an even worse year. But, it’s clear they’ve been burning the midnight oil over in Cologne, and the TF108 looks to be a far better car for Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock to commence battle with. Trulli has reignited the devastating pace that had seemed to have evaded him the last couple of years, with typically strong qualifying results and a nice stack of points from Sepang and Bahrain. Timo Glock meanwhile, hasn’t looked altogether slow, but he will definitely need to lift his game to Trulli’s level if Toyota are to come out ‘best of the rest’.
Honda
Last year was…forgettable. Honda have all but sent all their employees to memory erasion therapy in order to start anew. And with the determination to claw back to the front now helmed by Ross Brawn, Honda are looking far better this time around. Although Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello have been circulating just outside the points – its miles ahead of the back of the grid where they dwelled in 2007. Points can and will be easier to come by this year, and should they continue to work hard at Brackley, they might just push their way into the ever-expanding midfield mob.
Toro Rosso
The team formerly known as Minardi are establishing themselves as the best-worst team on the grid, with both Sebastian Vettel and Sebastien Bourdais making cameo appearances in the high-end of the grid this year. Bourdais dodged the carnage in Australia and was looking set for fourth on debut, while Vettel
Force India
The new owners of Formula Ones ever changing team appear this time to mean business. Yes it’s been said every year, but something about Force India seems…complete. Indian billionaire owner Vijay Mallaya is open about his commitment, and doesn’t have the same misguided business motives of Midland or Spyker. Giancarlo Fisichella has been brilliant so far this year, taking the car higher than expected, fighting the odd Williams or Renault. Sutil has been less impressive – being completely overshadowed by his experienced teammate…but its still early days for this new team.
Super Aguri
Things don’t look good for Aguri Suzuki’s charming little outfit. Sponsorship dramas and general lack of time and funding have put the team well and truly in a bad spot. Adding to the misery is the fact they are running a chassis that in Honda guise was often beaten by Super Aguri’s car last year. Its been a tough start of the year for Takuma Sato and Anthony Davidson…and it doesn’t really look like getting any better either.
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