Formula One 2008

[Mike]

The F1 2008 calendar is due to start on 16 March 2008 (this sunday) and there have been some good bits of gossip pre-season. One of the more radical suggestions is for the fastest cars to start at the back of the field to prompt over taking. Top idea, don't know if it would work in practice. The winner would HAVE to be the best racing driver on the track though.

So who is tipped to win this year? I am voting Hamilton (partly from patriotic pride and hope!), though I do think he has a good chance. The other runners are Kimi Raikonnen (second title?) or the Spanish Baby.

[Mike]

The drivers for the new season. The Ferrari line up remains the same, as does Red Bull, Sauber and Honda. New teams too with Force India which will be interesting to watch. I think I will have to make sure that we record the first race on Sunday!

[stimpsonslostson]

he winner would HAVE to be the best racing driver on the track though.

I dunno about that, I think that the a1gp has the best idea, all teams are given identical cars are equal so its upto the team and driver to get the most out of what is provided. This seems to me to be a better reflection of who is the best driver (and engineering team).
I freely admit that I just dont "get" F1 (or most motorsport in general). I respect the skills involved, but it just doesn't do anything for me.
P

To respond to the original question... I think that Lewis will find this year more difficult- he's lost the element of surprise and I suspect that he benefited from Alonso's dedication to development. I'm curious to see whether honda will show signs of improvement now Ross Braun has joined. (although the rumours about the car are BAD!) I tip Kimi for the title.

[Lizzie]

Also, surely putting the faster cars at the back of the pack will inevitably lead to drivers aiming to be the slowest in qualification thus leading to very dull racing !!!

[BarcelonAl]

Good point Lizzie, which would make the whole idea a total mockery.

I like the idea of bringing everything down to a level playing field in terms of the improved racing it would probably bring, but that will never happen as part of F1 is the competition between the teams to tweak and innovate to try to get an advantage over the opposition.

In other news, Ross Brawn reckons that Honda are making progress over last season...which frankly wouldn't be difficult!

I reckon Lewis can push himself to finish the job this season, but think it will be a close run thing between him, Kimi and Alonso.

[Mike]

Also, surely putting the faster cars at the back of the pack will inevitably lead to drivers aiming to be the slowest in qualification thus leading to very dull racing !!!

It was more that the championship leader is at the back of the grid, which would therefore eliminate qualifying which would be weird. It is a controversial proposal for sure.

[Mike]

Ross Brawn the technical director from Ferrari during the Schumacher years has joined Honda team after his year out. I had forgotten about that and it will be nice to see if Honda can improve their performance. I am sure it will not be an overnight achievements but the future could be promising.

[Mike]

Melbourne Circuit Guide

[Mike]

The Engineer that caused McLaren to be fined £50million and be docked of all points has been sacked.

Ferrari and McLaren are the fastest cars on the track. Is this because they are the same car? I just don't know. It could be that though! Good news is Lewis was top and second in the practice sessions. Mark Webber and Coulthard were fifth and sixth in the practice sessions to make Red Bull the surprise 2008 starters! Lets see how they manage in the actual qualification periods.

[Mike]

Hamilton is on Pole with a BMW behind him and Kimi last following a problem in Qualifying - that must be frustrating for the Ferrari team who are usually bullet proof.

[Mike]

Yay Hamilton who won the first race in Melbourne

Quote of the race though from David Coulthard after Felipe Massa ran into the side of his car and wiped him out of the race

He better apologise or I will kick three colours of shit out of the little bastard!

Genius!

[mr_e]

I never caught much of the F1 last season, but if the first race is anything to go by then I may have to schedule some diary space. Or figure out how to work our video recorder. Great race, although the number of retirees meant the field was a bit sparse by the end. One of the new teams did really well (the name escapes me), although they were thwarted by engine failure in the closing laps.

[Mike]

Red Bull's second team Torro Rosso. They are not new as such but are Minnows!

[Mike]

Jean Todt has stepped down as leader of Ferrari team - what a time to do it, just at the start of a new season. He will remain as a Exec but I wonder what effect this will have on the team. I would have thought it was very unsettling.

Torro Rosso is up for sale now they can not use the Red Bull cars from 2010. Its a shame as they were going for a fourth place in the last GP (though only seven cars finished!).

[Mike]

BBC have won back the rights to show the Formula One competition. This is great news, I personally have only ever experienced ITV commentary but if the Rugby is anything to go by the BBC will be better.