Who will win 2004 season? Will Ferrari fail this time? Me thinks so!!!

Place your bets now.....

I'll go for Montoya (obvious choice I know)

Lee

Ummm if team orders, sorry gentlemans agreements are not in place and Rubens gets a half decent supply of working parts; I think he ahs the consistency to do it...*if* he can do it is another matter. Too long has he *supported*.

So Montoya if he keeps his nerve...which leaves Kimi.

Sadly I think our chaps will be there but for keeping the side in. That said I still wave a flag for David...

I will be supporting Kimi and Montoya, but between the pair Montoya easily. The only problem for Montoya I think will be Ralf, who I am quite sure will be out to stop his team-mate rather than his brother at any cost (no change there then). Having said that, the fact that Ralf gets

Major disagreement here with those before!! Think Montoya will be a disaster this year - was a muppet towards the end of last year and given what is happening going forward I can't see that he will have any real focus this year. My prediction therefore is:

1) Schuey

2) Button

3) Rubens

4) Alonso

5) Kimi

6) Montoya

Obviously, my comment on Button is based on the BAR being reasonably reliable and quick this year BUT if it is I reckon he has now got what it takes to go for it big time.

So thats another vote for Rubens then Stu :P

Alot of *IFs* this season...year before last I was not bothered about the races, highlights would do; thats highlights on the news aswell, really very little "racing". Last season was much better, this I hope to be excellent, next, might even go to one.

1st M Schumacher 1st Ferrari...

2nd constructor... Williams or Mclaren

2nd driver.. Raikkonen or Rubens......

Unless another driver car package can CONSISTANTLY score better than

Schumacher and Ferrari... then the realiability and Scheys ability to nurse

a sick car... will make the difference...

2004 Ferrari looks very quick.... revised 2003GA car was regular up there with Williams and outpacing Mclaren....

3rd and 4th will be between Renault and BAR .... with Button and Alonso

there!!!

7th F1 drivers champ!!! you'd be a fool to put to much money against it...

Dazz

As you guessed a Schuey fan....

I know what your saying about Schuey, but with all these new rules regarding practice and time setting it could be much more of a lottery.

Whilst Schuey has been the main man for quite some time, I do think both Kimi and Montoya are going to push him more than anyone else has ever done, which may lead to an interesting season.

Schumacher's still the man to beat. Williams guy's I don't think will be able to put up the fight all season. Personally I think it would be hilarous if the year Mclaren chuck DC if he goes and wins the title. I hope Jag do will, I've had a soft spot for them as they came from the Stewart team.

To be honest i'm past caring.

It'll be another season of boring racing, same as it has been for the last few years.

As for Bernie & Max's attempts to make it more exciting...Hah ! what a joke that is.

Bring back the turbos, lets see some wider tracks and then we might get some overtaking, and not just the odd do-or-die attempt from Montoya.

To be honest i'm past caring.

It'll be another season of boring racing' date=' same as it has been for the last few years.

As for Bernie & Max's attempts to make it more exciting...Hah ! what a joke that is.

Bring back the turbos, lets see some wider tracks and then we might get some overtaking, and not just the odd do-or-die attempt from Montoya.[/quote']

Here, here. Ever since Rubens had to let Michael go past before the finish I have stopped watching and caring. What a farce!

I work for Renault F1 team so I fly the flag for Alonso. Even Schumacher is worried how quick he is and have said that he is the only driver they will consider signing. Alonso all the way. We'll see Sunday anyway.

I work for Renault F1 team so I fly the flag for Alonso. Even Schumacher is worried how quick he is and have said that he is the only driver they will consider signing. Alonso all the way. We'll see Sunday anyway.

So where are the free tickets??

Have to agree with Monkey on the need for wider tracks, but also a ban on all in-race refuelling.

Think Schumi again and Ferrari for the Constructors again. 2nd will be very close though. I think Kimi will nick this with Ralf 3rd, Button 4th and Alonso 5th. I don't think Montoya is going to be a huge threat this year as he has been too inconsistant for my liking.

Think this will be the year we see Button turn the corner and finally break his podium jinx with a win and a very commanding number 1 driver performance. Next year I feel he will be pushing for the title. Just hope the BAR is up to it, as Button certainly is!

Montoya will walk it this year...

schuey wont give a toss... would you????

the mclaren is handicapped by a crap engine.

the renault will not have enought aero development.

the bar will fail to impress long term.. although i wish jenson well.

Must admit to having the same thoughts on it as Geoff and Q ...........but much as I don't really like Michael Schumacher , it is difficult to see anyone beating him again this year , because currently he is the best driver and he also uses his brain ..........and he ain't bad in the wet

Montoya will win races , but not the Championship ..........the biggest emerging talent is Fernando Alonso.....who I think will be World Champion .............but obviously not with Renault , ........more likely with Ferrari .

schuey wont give a toss... would you????

Paul , I reckon if he didn't give a toss , then he wouldn't be there .........he's ultra competetive and hates to be beaten !

I work for Renault F1 team so I fly the flag for Alonso. Even Schumacher is worried how quick he is and have said that he is the only driver they will consider signing. Alonso all the way. We'll see Sunday anyway.

Haven't Renault stopped using their wide angle V10 engine and gone back to a modified 1999 Supertec unit?

Schumacher has certainly got the talent and car to win again, but has he got the motivation? If McLaren can remain reliable all year then Kimi must have a great chance of taking Schumacher. I think the main thing this season will be consistancy, only 1 engine per weekend.

I know I've posted about this already, but if anyone wants to play Fantasy Formula One this season, then follow the link in my sig. It's free and fun - honest!

To be honest i'm past caring.

I was too, but it is what is on offer today - and it won't be boring this year, and neither was last year. It won't be pure, but that's the sacrifice for excitement. Where did you get this bored feeling, Geoff? Racing in the olden days used to be such much more 'boring' at times. What about a runaway Jim Clark victory for excitement? But it was pure and honest - Bernie and Max gave up pure and honest for The Show.

So although I'm a motor racing nostalgic at heart I still get a kick out of any form of modern racing, F1 included.

Bring back the turbos, lets see some wider tracks and then we might get some overtaking, and not just the odd do-or-die attempt from Montoya.

No, please, not the turbos!

Instead, cut back on aerodynamics and electronics and bring back big wide slicks to increase mechanical grip and lessen the dependence on aero grip, and throw out all silly Hermann Tilke tracks - that's my recipe. It's also an impossible recipe (you can't turn back the clock on aerodynamics and electronics) and a recipe for disaster. People would get killed again racing real men's cars.

I agree with Dutch4x4 about reducing aero-grip and increasing mechanical grip. Last season was really good, but the year before with the contrived Ferrari wins was dull, and F1 lost a lot of fans, but at least the FIA shook things up. I'm surprised that there haven't been any rules about the amount of 'marbles' that are produced by the tyres. They make it difficult for the drivers to drive on any part of the circuit apart from the racing line.

schuey wont give a toss... would you????.

Probably not Paul ... but IMHO that is the difference between Schumacher and almost any other driver - he's done & won everything but he doesn't care he just wants to win the next one. Scarily driven bloke!

Well Schumi and Barrichello have slaughtered everyone in the first practice session with Williams and McLaren languishing in the mid area. Hopefully this isn't the way the race will go, though Button has started well with a 4th!

Haven't Renault stopped using their wide angle V10 engine and gone back to a modified 1999 Supertec unit?

Renault have certainly ditched the wide angle V10, but what they are using in its place, I don't know. Renault will also lose out now that launch control has been banned.

Engine reliability is going to be key this year. If you blow an engine in practice/qualifying, you are automatically knocked 10 places down the grid. So we'll see less 'tweaked' engines used in qualifying. I think this will even out the midfield more than the top teams, and I think it is there that you will see the most exciting racing.

You can't realistically bet against Ferrari at the moment, but it depends what developments the other teams have during the season.

Anyone getting up early , or even staying up to watch the Australian Grand Prix , start time 3 am ?.................................no , nor me , I'll just put Ceefax on and look at the result when I get up .

If Michael Schumacher doesn't win it will be as big a shock as Ireland beating England in the Rugby

Well..

Ferrari 1 & 2, next car 35 seconds behind....

Here we go again

Anyone fancy a Briskoda meet at a touring car event? muuuch better than F1.

Yep !

I nominate Croft, it's about time you southerners got your a**es up north for a change