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With the majority of teams concluding their pre-season testing at Barcelona and geting ready for the long haul flight to Australia and the start of the F1 season, which team do you think is on form ?

The last test in Barcelona seems to have mixed up a few things. We saw Brawn's stunning times and McLaren's worryingly slow times. Ferrari and BMW Sauber appeared to be doing what they were supposed to do while Toyota has shown some promising signs as have Williams, Red Bull and Renault.

But do we really know ? What do you think ?

I think there is the usual smoke n mirrors, however RedBull seem to show promise, Toyota times are interesting, I still think Renault have been careful to not extend the car over too many laps, Ferrari is as Ferrari does, BMW are on pace, and what the hell is happening with McLaren ? They were running around with 08 spec bits for way too long.
Brawn is an absolute unknown quantity, and could have a hell of an effect on their championship if their drivers take early points before the car runs out of development $$.
I will take an early stab and say,
Constructors
Ferrari
BMW
RedBull
Renault
McLaren

Every time I think about it my opinion seems to change. At this stage I'm going for a couple of gambles in my predictions. I'll probably change my mind before the first race.

BMW
Ferrari
Red Bull
4th: McLaren
5th: Toyota
6th: Renault
7th: Brawn
8th: Torro Rosso
9th: Williams
10th: Force India

I have added a poll asking which team will be the team to beat in Melbourne.

I have to agree with Southernman regarding changing opinion! I think this last Barcelona test has really shuffled things. It could all be sponsorship attention from Brawn and sandbagging from McLaren but I doubt that it is completely that. I think the Brawn is a quick car and the McLaren is struggling. To what degree, that is what we don't know.

There are also other factors that don't really show up in the laptimes. Who will be running KERS successfully, and that is key, it doesn't really matter if you use KERS only for the system to heat up and drops you out of the race with a few laps to go while leading by 20 seconds!

The big difference in tyre compound will be another factor as Bridgestone have increased the difference between the premium and option tyres and each driver has to use both during a race. Last season this wasn't much of an issue but it is expected that this season it will be a big factor.

Of course there is also the start collisions which by all accounts will be more than last year thanks to the extra wide front wing. Cutting across into turn 1 will cause a lot more havoc than last season. This may cause a rule change for next year as it has the potential of spoiling many races this season. (and I really hope that I am wrong on this)

So who do I think will be on form in Melbourne, I think it will be BMW Sauber then Ferrari, Toyota, Renault, Red Bull, McLaren, Brawn, Williams, Toro Rosso and Force India.

I have gone for RB, simply because I had to choose one We could have four or five different teams in the first 8-10 cars across the finish line, and unfortunately, luck is going to have a big say

Julian Mayo wrote:I have gone for RB, simply because I had to choose one We could have four or five different teams in the first 8-10 cars across the finish line, and unfortunately, luck is going to have a big say

I agree with Julian(except for the Red Bull part, though; haven't kept up with all the off-season buzz in F1 as much as I normally would..... ). What's going to be interesting IMO is how all the rule changes, changes in the cars themselves, etc., are going to affect the races this year. As many surprises as there were in 2008, 2009 looks to be just as interesting. As for teams, I'll have to go with BMW-Sauber this year; as well as they've been doing the past few years, this year could be the year they dislodge either the Tifosi or the Silver Arrows from the top of the F1 ladder.

I threw in driver quality as the decisive factor.............

I think Toyota may be the smokey for Melbourne. Red car and Red bull in top 3

Sticking to my favourites as always, i think for the season Ferrari will be the main contender followed closely by BWM and Toyota.

For the season opener i think that there will be a couple of surprises with Brawn GP and Red Bull showing the factory teams how it should be done. Brawn may even show everyone how it should be done!

GhoGho wrote:Sticking to my favourites as always, i think for the season Ferrari will be the main contender followed closely by BWM and Toyota.

For the season opener i think that there will be a couple of surprises with Brawn GP and Red Bull showing the factory teams how it should be done. Brawn may even show everyone how it should be done!

The Brawn might be a bit slower when they take the 5 litre engine out before Melbourne

To begin with, Ed, it's a race. An F1 race on a challenging course with a history of unexpected twists.
I don't want to second guess Julian (usually when I do so, I end up with egg on my face ), but I think Ferrari are up to their usual sand-bagging in open testing.
Because Kimi and Felipe are such cagey drivers, I expect them to be really moving into the first turn --and moving to the INside so as to avoid the usual crush and rush. I also expect them to be in the first four positions, probably with Felipe on the pole and Kimi right behind him.

I HOPE, but I don't expect, to see a Braun racer in there, probably with Jensen behind the wheel and I expect him to be really challenging.
Who will he be pushing against? Probably Timo Glock.

Lewis will be experiencing his first in a long time traffic jam and hoping to escape with all his wings intact.

Robert Kubica will be somewhere in the first six at the start and I expect to see him on the podium at the end. Why? Because, like Kimi and Fernando, he's a RACER and he gets more out of a machine than it really has to give.

My heart wants a repeat of last year with Kimi first , Jensen second and Robert third.

The McLarens should be in the points. And as for Lewis? This will be his 'Kimi year' (if there's any justice) and we'll see how he handles it.

But if there is rain and any opportunity for strategy to play a part, don't be amazed to find the Brauns punishing the field. Ross is unmatched at strategy by anyone else in the pits.

Red Bull's Seb and Webb may also get some points, the one because he's FAST and the other because he's SMART.

poor Jay Vee I'm thinking the Renault will be a slow starter and, for all his skills and smarts, Fernando just won't have enough to seriously contest.

Of course, all of this will certainly look foolish after the race!

Less than Ten Days to Go! Finally, real racing; no more NASCAR substitute moving commutes

Jim Watt

COME ON! Only Four Votes!! Let's get with it, people!

Jim Watt

Jim Watt wrote:
To begin with, Ed, it's a race. An F1 race on a challenging course with a history of unexpected twists.
I don't want to second guess Julian (usually when I do so, I end up with egg on my face ), but I think Ferrari are up to their usual sand-bagging in open testing.
Because Kimi and Felipe are such cagey drivers, I expect them to be really moving into the first turn --and moving to the INside so as to avoid the usual crush and rush. I also expect them to be in the first four positions, probably with Felipe on the pole and Kimi right behind him.

I HOPE, but I don't expect, to see a Braun racer in there, probably with Jensen behind the wheel and I expect him to be really challenging.
Who will he be pushing against? Probably Timo Glock.

Lewis will be experiencing his first in a long time traffic jam and hoping to escape with all his wings intact.

Robert Kubica will be somewhere in the first six at the start and I expect to see him on the podium at the end. Why? Because, like Kimi and Fernando, he's a RACER and he gets more out of a machine than it really has to give.

My heart wants a repeat of last year with Kimi first , Jensen second and Robert third.

The McLarens should be in the points. And as for Lewis? This will be his 'Kimi year' (if there's any justice) and we'll see how he handles it.

But if there is rain and any opportunity for strategy to play a part, don't be amazed to find the Brauns punishing the field. Ross is unmatched at strategy by anyone else in the pits.

Red Bull's Seb and Webb may also get some points, the one because he's FAST and the other because he's SMART.

poor Jay Vee I'm thinking the Renault will be a slow starter and, for all his skills and smarts, Fernando just won't have enough to seriously contest.

Of course, all of this will certainly look foolish after the race!

Less than Ten Days to Go! Finally, real racing; no more NASCAR substitute moving commutes

Jim Watt

Fair enuff, Jim,
but if it rains in Qualifying, Webbo will be on pole..................

Yes, you may be right. I'm only worried because the Red Bull's are running those froggy engines. Now if they only had Mercs, like the Indian chaps and Ross's boys!

Jim

Jim Watt wrote: Yes, you may be right. I'm only worried because the Red Bull's are running those froggy engines. Now if they only had Mercs, like the Indian chaps and Ross's boys!

Jim

I thought that also but ED very kindly reminded me that those engines have been around for a bit, and all the bugs should have been ironed out, and with the horsepower parity rules, it should be a level field.................