The Mushroom's 2005 Formula One Preview. My musings on the upcoming season, focusing on the ten teams.
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So with a little over two weeks until the start of the new Formula One season, I thought I'd write a few words about the upcoming campaign and who I think will make a big impact.
Firstly we come to Ferrari and they simply do not look as strong this year. At least point-5 of a second behind the Renaults and McLarens in testing, in pretty much every condition, I predict a tough season from the prancing horses. Rubens Barrichello will be looking at this season as a chance to finally stick it to Michael Schumacher and show what a talented driver he really is. I tip the Brazilian to do unexpected things this season, and with the FIA clampdown on team orders, I expect competition in the Ferrari camp to be tough.
The Renault line up is strong, Fernando Alonso, arguably the most promising driver on the grid at the moment, and Giancarlo Fisichella who has obvious talent, but has never quite made it to the big-time. He did great things with Sauber last season, and his return to Renault should bring regular podium finishes and maybe even a couple of wins. Alonso I expect the be up there all season. A proven race winner, he's my tip for the drivers title this season.
BAR had a fantastic season, last time around and will be hoping for the same this season. However the Jenson Button and Takuma Sato piloted cars have struggled in testing, and have been finding it hard to keep pace with the stupidly quick Renaults. I predict a fairly pedestrian season from them, and I feel Jenson will once again miss out on that illusive first win. Sato may be a surprise.
McLaren had an awful first half of last season, and already look on for a better title tilt this season. With two fiesty, agressive drivers in young Finn Kimi Raikonen, and Columbian Juan Montoya, McLaren are my tip for the Constructors title. The two drivers will push each other to the limits, and this can't be a bad thing. Raikonen and Montoya are both future champions, and it will be interesting to see who comes out on top in the McLaren this year. My tip is for Montoya to surprise in his first season with the team, but expect a Kimi backlash in the future.
Its all change at BMW Williams this year, as both race drivers from last season were out the door. Their replacements come in the shape of the hugely talented Aussie, Mark Webber and German nearly-man Nick Heidfeld, who just pipped Antonio Pizzonia to the second seat. Webber will go close this year, and will win a race, but doubts over the cars ability to go all the way stop them being title contenders. Heidfeld will do a solid job in the sister car.
Toyota also go into 2005 with a brand-new driver line up. With former Williams and Renault racers, Ralf Schumacher and Jarno Trulli coming in for Olivier Panis and with Ricardo Zonta once again missing out, despite some impressive performances when substituting for Da Matta last season. I think 2005 will be another disappointing season for the Japanese marque, they just don't have the legs.
Sauber have pulled off somewhat of a coup, in signing former World Champion Jacque Villenueve alongside Brazilian Felipe Massa. Surprisingly, the youngster has been consistently quicker than Jacque throughout testing, and it will be interesting to see what the small Swiss team can acheive this season. They could be a surprise, and with the clever move to Michelin rubber they could easily grab some podiums.
Been a winter of change for Jordan, with the team being bought out by the Russian funded Midland group. Quite what the team will race as this season is unknown, Midland Jordan is a possibility, or the could stay as plain Jordan Racing. Inexperience is the by-word for them this year, with India's Narain Karthikeyan becoming his countries first Formula One driver. He is joined by the relatively unknown Portuguese Tiago Monteiro. Expected to be challenging for last place with Minardi all season, this will be seen as an interim period before the team becomes Midland F1 in 2006. I expect a poor season for the Silverstone team, despite securing arguably the best engine on the grid, in the form of a Toyota powerplant.
Now we come to the little Italians, Minardi. Quite what we can expect from them this year is unknown, they do admittedly have a promising driver line-up in Christijan Albers and Patrick Freisacher. Starting the season in last years cars, pending a court ruling I think, Minardi may struggle yet again.
New-boys, Red Bull Racing complete the grid for 2005. Basically a Jaguar, the Austrian outfit have a good driver line-up in the hugely experience David Coulthard and youngster Christian Klien, who conveniently has enjoyed full Red Bull backing throughout his career, including a largely anonymous debut season in F1 with Jaguar last season. I don't expect much from this lot this year. Its a learning year in almost every way.
