The Formula One Season 2005

DC was amazing. It was sweet to see him outdriving Weber's Williams, and setting a fastest lap at one point.

 

Hi all,

Did anybody find the race interesting?

The rule changes have indirectly made it more difficult to overtake.

With a messed up grid like we had there should have been lots of overtaking. But it just didn't happen.

The only good thing is that Ferrari did not leave the rest for dead like last year!

RBR have a much better car than Jag had last year. Mainly due to a massive engine upgrade. But they weren't that quick. COU benefited from qualifying at the right time and running in free air all through the race.

I hope the race is more interesting in Sepang. And that we do a better job!

Ian

 

Hi Ian,

no, I found the race boring in the extreme. I got up at 4.00 am to watch it, but decided to go back to sleep after half an hour or so.

I really don't know why the FIA doesn't comprehensively tackle the areas where changes would make overtaking possible again: brakes and aerodynamics.

 

I see - someone with their British anti-Schumacher blinkers on

If you actually saw the incident you would have seen that it was in fact Heidfeld who rammed Schumacher off the road (his car was clearly the one doing the ramming). However, this was because Heidfeld was unable to brake since he was on the grass and not a deliberate act. He was on the grass because Schumacher had squeezed him a bit in their little battle.

Any unbiased person's view of the incident would see it clearly as a racing incident where no one was at fault.

Race was pretty boring and disappointingly so after the mixed up grid. Looking forward to Sepang where hopefully we'll get a clearly picture of where everyone stands relative to each other. Good news (from my point of view as a Ferrari supporter) is that the Ferrari 2004M is still amongst the top cars. Roll on the F2005 .

Nice to see Fisi getting his first "real" win allthough his qualifying position was still a gift from the gods and that helped him enormously.

Villeneuve should just retire. He was so utterly hopeless in that Sauber. Massa wiped the floor with him.

Michael.

 

im not overtly anti schumacher but from what i heard from other people watching , what martin brundle said on the commentry and a poll i saw on the itv f1 website, which i guess is british
http://www.itv-f1.com/Home.aspx

i think about 80% thought it was was schumachers fault.

Of course if should see it for myself first........... Maybe it was just a "Racing incident"

I do respect the guy enourmasly and admire him, but i think some people have short memories, im sure i can remember several incidences in the past where he has fortunately for him taken people out for his own advantage.

Mind you, winning at all costs, apparantly senna was like that sometimes. although i wouldn't comment on that as i am too young to remember most of his career.

 

I found the race interesting for the point of view of understanding how the latest 'improvements' in the regulations have further screwed the sport.

Beyond this, the only other real interest of the weekend was the political nonsense going on behind the scenes. Paul Stoddart's legal manoeuvring reminded the FIA that they are not a law unto themselves, thus provoking a predictably OTT response from Mosely - threatening Australia with cancellation of all international FIA sanctioned motorsport, namely the FI GP and WRC events.

This, of course, was largely (I imagine) power posturing in the extreme. There is nothing unique about the Australian legal system that enabled this action. Similar challenges could just as easily be launched in many other countries. Just imagine the shit storm that be provoked if this sort of action was launched and persued in the USA?

Anyway - hope things improve in Malaysia. I'm looking forward to seeing qualifying in consistent weather conditions to get a better representation of team's relative performance. Also happy for another time-zone-friendly GP before we head into the European season with long cold winter nights/early mornings staying up to watch more processional races...

Stuart.

 

Schumacher didn't ram the Williams, he closed the door which under motor racing he is allowed to do. The fact that Heidfeld had to go onto the grass which ment he had no control of his car is down to a Racing incident and on this time it finished Schumachers race. maybe next time Heidfeld might not move out of the way and Schumacher might hit his car car. This year F1 is now being raced like it use to be Where the driver has to look after his car ( the best i ever saw at this was prost)

 

Fwiw my take on MSC/HEI: Nick was showing Michael that he will fight for his chances in his new car. Michael showed Nick that he still isn't likely to make way for the young'uns.

Business as usual.

 

The German press has BMW walking away from Williams. BMW is said to have asked for majority ownership of the team, which Frank Williams and Patrick Head politely refused (surprising, given that FW has been talking about retirement for some time).

BMW is said to be considering buying into Sauber, which would be a lot closer geographically.

 

...and culturally

I can't blame BMW though. They've consistenly produced the 2nd best (some would say the best) engine on the grid (after Ferrari) for the last couple of years only to see them go to waste on, frankly, mediocre cars from Williams. This year it looks like Williams have dropped the ball yet again.

Michael.

 

Michael

Williams are concious of their cars failings and you may be surprised whats coming out in the next couple of months.

Regards

Mick

 

Maybe, but the point is that for the last umpteen seasons, Williams have consistently failed to be competitive from the start of the season. They have also generally been able to catch up during the season, and even taken the lead sometimes, but by then it has always been too late for the championships.

It seems Williams are unable to adapt successfully to new challenges when left to their own devices. Once they've seen other cars, they recognise the strengths and weaknesses of their own and the competitors' cars and often improve on the ideas of their competitors, but the original design leaves a lot to be desired.

 

Markus

I spent 4 months last year working with Williams and I think it is fair to say that most of the chaps within the company would totally agree with what you have said.

They are a fast reacting company and they have recruited new key staff to put this matter right. They are also starting a product improvement programme which should bear fruit fairly soon.

Regards

Mick

 

Hi Mick,

"Williams are concious of their cars failings and you may be surprised whats coming out in the next couple of months."

We are all aware of our failings.

One of Williams failings is that they have been very conservative in how they design their chassis. Unless they have changed some of their staff in one particular area then that will not change.

They also have a technical director who is unlikely to have the experience to lead the team technically as he doesn't have the experience. The rest of the top performing teams have technical directors with far more experience for a reason.

No doubt though, that Williams have, over the years, produced some fantastic cars.

Ian

 

Ian

I think Williams have got the message that there needs to be change.

I only spent 4 months there so am far from being an expert.

Surprisingly the day I started was the same day the Frank announced he was going to pinch Button off you, so I thought best to keep quiet.

Regards

Mick

 

There is more to engine performance than just torque and revs, spec sheets are not always what they seem. Have Ferrari got the best engine can you prove that as far as i can see they have the best driver, best transmision, tyres to suit, best balanced car for that driver, as well as an engine.

 

Mick,

I hope you're right about Williams. I'd love to see them get their act together and mount a serious challenge for the championships. Do you expect the effect of these changes to become evident in the early part of the season - eg. by the fist European round?

Regards,

Stuart.

 

Stuart

I had a phone call only yesterday from a chap at Williams suggesting we do Lunch etc.

Mods to cars are completed surprisingly quick in F1, you have to see it to believe it.

At the end of the day, the issue is not so much how quickly they do it but more the quality and effectiveness of it. Also you have to remember, it really is bloody competitive and todays achievement is tomorrows history.

The overall feeling is that they will make up some lost ground. Let's hope so.

Regards

Mick

 

Thanks Mick - fingers crossed for Malaysia.

 

No, of course I can't. However, it's an undisputable fact that Ferrari have the most reliable engine and that's a HUGE benefit. Added to that the Ferrari engine is definitely a contender for most powerful on the grid (along with BMW and Honda) and it must be pretty driveable too and you have a pretty winning combination.

Indeed, the "spec sheets" of F1 engines are a closely guarded secret so I'm making my judgements based on observation.

IMO if an engine is powerful/driveable enough to win races and it's also the most reliable that makes it pretty much the best engine out there.

Michael.