Calls for 2006 pre-season predictions

Julian Mayo · Post by **Julian Mayo** » Thu Feb 02, 2006 11:47 pm

rah wrote:I know I am mental, it's just nice to know I am not alone.

echo .... echo.......... echo....................echo..........................echo

BlinkyBill · Post by **BlinkyBill** » Fri Feb 03, 2006 7:08 am

Hats off to you T-K, nice to see some healthy bold predictions, without the tears of it being too early for a punt.

Ill be the first to shout you a beer if you're right.

rah · Post by **rah** » Fri Feb 03, 2006 7:31 am

T.K if you are right I will buy you a case of beer! Good aussie stuff not that South African stuff.

<T-K> · Post by **<T-K>** » Fri Feb 03, 2006 7:49 am

Hahaha......you may call me crazy now.....but we will see....we will all know who is right when that good aussie beer is in front of me....

And as for the tears...me!? no!?...never...hehe......

See you all at the bar....drinks are on me....

Did I just say that?

mlittle · Post by **mlittle** » Fri Feb 03, 2006 10:56 am

T-K, those are some bold picks. Here's mine for the season......

WDC}1--Alonso or Raikkonen
2--Raikkonen or Alonso
3--Button
4--Montoya
5--Webber
6--M. Schumacher
7--Barrichello
8--Fisichella
9--Heidfield
10--Coulthard

WCC}1--Renault or McLaren
2--McLaren or Renault
3--Ferrari
4--Toyota
5--Honda
6--Williams
7--Red Bull
8--Sauber/BMW
9--Toro Rosso
10--Midland/MF1
11--Super Aguri

In case anyone's wondering why both sets of 1-2 picks are an either/or......it's simple: if McLaren's MP4-21 is reliable the entire year, then Raikkonen will have a shot at unseating Alonso. If it isn't.....Alonso's a 2-time WDC.

Julian Mayo · Post by **Julian Mayo** » Fri Feb 03, 2006 11:03 am

<T-K> wrote:Hahaha......

See you all at the bar....drinks are on me.... Did I just say that?

taxi! the bar ! post haste!

Graham Ross · Post by **Graham Ross** » Fri Feb 03, 2006 1:21 pm

If you get the top 3 in that order T-K I will send you 5 cases of the best Aussie beer all the way to South Africa

Sadly you are too optimistic or too .......

After the testing form of McLaren, I doubt they will win anything until Silverstone

Constructors:

1) Renault (They will be reliable)
2) Ferrari (Reliable too but Bridgestone will still be behind Michelin)
3) McLaren (Playing catchup again but the genious of Newey isn't there anymore

)
4) Honda (Like last year, fast in testing but can't race)
5) Toyota (Would have beaten Honda if they were on Michelins

)
6) Red Bull (The genious of Newey will make a big difference later in the season)
7) BMW Sauber (Their first season)
8 ) Williams (Sadly too many problems)

Drivers:

1) Alonso (Winning the first few races makes him uncatchable AGAIN!!)
2) Michael (He tries but the Bridgestones don't help)
3) Montoya (He tries but the Mercedes don't help)
4) Raikkonen (Blows more engines than Montoya !!)
5) Fisichella (Can't match Alonso)
6) Massa (Matches Michael but a few strange calls put him back a bit)
7) Barrichello (He proves his worth)
8 ) Button (Close behind Barrichello)
9) Trulli (Strong qualifying helps)
10) Coulthard (Whatever the car, he'll nurse the car into the points!)
11) Heidfeld (You'd expect him somewhere in the top 12)
12) Webber (The car doesn't help him at all and gets frustrated!)

JayVee · Post by **JayVee** » Fri Feb 03, 2006 3:16 pm

So if one drinks Aussie beer then you have to pick Webber for WDC and Williams for WCC

Or does it depend on the number of bottles consumed

mack_30 · Post by **mack_30** » Fri Feb 03, 2006 5:36 pm

I'd say this'll be the line up"

CONSTRUCTORS:

1) RENAULT (consistency and development will be the key)
2) HONDA (the japs aren't really sleeping until they beat everybody else)
3) MCLAREN (driver and technical team are moving somewhere else)
4) FERRARI (better than last year but still down)
5) REDBULL (Michelin will help them move up the order)
6) WILLIAMS
7) TOYOTA

DRIVERS:
1) ALONSO (calm and steady)
2) JPM (unless he gets injury again playing tennis)
3) FISI (Renault will focus on him)
4) KIMI (expect him to blow the MP4-21 like a rocket)
5) MICHAEL (still potent but tyres killing him)

The difference:
1.) Michelin teams will have the "edge" as Michelin continues to prove they can innovate tires!
2.) JPM will elbow KIMI. He got faster than KIMI last half of last year.
3.) ALONSO handles pressure and concentrates very well.
4.) SCHUMI is still deadly but RENAULT, MCLAREN and HONDA have flexed their might! not to discount Michelin, of course.

Julian Mayo · Post by **Julian Mayo** » Fri Feb 03, 2006 6:23 pm

mack_30 wrote:I'd say this'll be the line up"

CONSTRUCTORS:

1) RENAULT (consistency and development will be the key)
2) HONDA (the japs aren't really sleeping until they beat everybody else)
3) MCLAREN (driver and technical team are moving somewhere else)
4) FERRARI (better than last year but still down)
5) REDBULL (Michelin will help them move up the order)
6) WILLIAMS
7) TOYOTA

DRIVERS:
1) ALONSO (calm and steady)
2) JPM (unless he gets injury again playing tennis)
3) FISI (Renault will focus on him)
4) KIMI (expect him to blow the MP4-21 like a rocket)
5) MICHAEL (still potent but tyres killing him)

The difference:
1.) Michelin teams will have the "edge" as Michelin continues to prove they can innovate tires!
2.) JPM will elbow KIMI. He got faster than KIMI last half of last year.
3.) ALONSO handles pressure and concentrates very well.
4.) SCHUMI is still deadly but RENAULT, MCLAREN and HONDA have flexed their might! not to discount Michelin, of course.

Some good reasons for your calls......don't forget tho that we are back to tyre changing pit-stops designed specifically (imho) to negate the Michelin advantage.
(don't forget to look in on the other forums here

Kapel · Post by **Kapel** » Fri Feb 03, 2006 10:42 pm

Sorry for late entry...

Constructors : -

1. Ferrari - Michael would do well & Massa will bring home the constructors crown
2. Renault - Only b'cos of Fisi.
3. Honda - Go Rubens.Button manages only podiums this year with no wins.
4. Mclaren - Both drivers were shopping,not necessarily for Mercedes engines
5. Toyota - Complete revamp in drivers line up needed.
6. Williams - Hurts without the works engine.
7. Redbull - Newey deal pays of in the end.
8. BMW - JV couldnt handle the power.
9. STR -

10.MF1 -

11. SA -

Drivers -

1.Alonso - Keeps the advantage from early wins.
2.Michael - Late charge is too late.
3.Kimi - Bad luck
4.Rubens - Honda's No.1
= Massa - Hello Uncle.
5.Montoya - I'm leaving anyways
6.Button - Damn,i thought i'm the multiple world champion
7.Ralf - Gets the better of his teammate finally.
8.Webber - Needs that Renault's seat.
9.Truli - His hairs acting as ballast.
10. Nick - He always tries his best.

mack_30 · Post by **mack_30** » Fri Feb 03, 2006 11:23 pm

Michelin had superior tyre last year both dry and wet. back in 2004 when michelin was fast in the opening laps but starts to lag after a while and BS was "considered" to have a very reliable tyre. 2005 called for a 1 race tyre and everyone expected BS will smother michelin. But it wasn't the case. Jean Todt even said FERRARI have a GOOD race tyre but bad on qualifying and the others have the opposite. Well, for Jean not loose fac he can slap himself. In my opinion Marshmallow man will still be ahead.

<T-K> · Post by **<T-K>** » Sat Feb 04, 2006 2:07 am

Graham Ross wrote:Sadly you are too optimistic or too .......

Thats the reason I fight for 324th place

rah · Post by **rah** » Sun Feb 05, 2006 4:43 pm

mack_30 wrote:Michelin had superior tyre last year both dry and wet. back in 2004 when michelin was fast in the opening laps but starts to lag after a while and BS was "considered" to have a very reliable tyre. 2005 called for a 1 race tyre and everyone expected BS will smother michelin. But it wasn't the case. Jean Todt even said FERRARI have a GOOD race tyre but bad on qualifying and the others have the opposite. Well, for Jean not loose fac he can slap himself. In my opinion Marshmallow man will still be ahead.

The marshmallow man surged ahead because of the extra testing that they did compared to bridgestone.

Julian Mayo · Post by **Julian Mayo** » Sun Feb 05, 2006 6:54 pm

because of the 2006 Regs my predictions are
Manchamp:
Toyota
Williams
Renault
Ferrari
Honda
Mclaren
Sauber
Redbull
.................
Drivers
Webber
Trulli
Alonso
Nico/Ralf tied
Fisi
Nick
Barrichello
JPM/Schuey tied
DC
JV
The Iceman will be red with Fury, and will wear out shoes walking back to the pits. He is a brilliant driver, but exposes any AND every weakness a car has

This is my call because, while there are so many uncertainties about reliability etc in the pre-season
, I believe the regs favour the B runners. Mark is a known cracker of a qualifier, a "good authority" tells me that the new 7 speed "seamless change" gearbox problems are solved ( at least with 7 as against last years 6 speeder the Bloody Williams should get off the line this season)The Cosworth will be one of, if not the most powerful early on. Toyota have Donkey's years of tradition in producing bullet proof engines,but Ralf will be too much of a burden for them to take 1st.
Renault will edge out Ferrari with superior driving skills ( anyone who thinks Fisi can't drive should watch a slo-mo of Spa last year...it IS possible to "drift" a modern F1 car.
The new regs are a Ferrri special, but Schuey will discover his mirrors and be glued to them watching for Sato, Massa will do as he is told.
Honda will amass points but with only 1 or two low podiums and consistancy by Barrichello, Button will be ragged trying to stay with Barra.not the way to drive a low torque V8.
I have a horrible feeling that the Macs are going to be cooking a lot of big Macs.
Nick will be edging closer to genuine title contender in 2007/8.
And DC .......is DC ..a remarkable driver. And while RedBull have the Dollars I believe they lack cohesion, and will do for this season. Next season(2007)......?
Easy..
Mclaren
Williams
Toyota
Sauber
RedBull
Honda
Ferrari
Honda2

MIA Renault.