So, it’s that time of the year again. The intelligentsia have spoken, the “oh-so-secret” stallions have been launched amongst much fan fare and the final link in the chain, the jockeys have been finalised. But while almost every team on the grid in busy issuing loquacious statements about their preparations and prospects, the average follower of the game is as ambivalent as ever. Certainly all of them cannot be true. The convoluted statements and data aim to obfuscate the truth and cocoon the team and its supporters. But then again, its that time of the year, when all the talking ends (well nearly) and the real fun begins – both on and off the track. So here I attempt to make some sense out of the potpourri of statistics, data jargon and the many soliloquies that we’ve been bombarded with in the past couple of months.
Firstly as respect to the winter testing results of all teams. Well certainly Ferrari seem to be ahead of everyone at the moment, with Kimi setting some scorching times in his low slung scarlet rocket ship of a car. McLaren Mercedes are not too far behind though with Hamilton leading the way. But will they be able to remain close over a race distance is the question that everyone is asking. They are certainly quick, and will stay right up there in qualifying, but in the race it’s slightly circumspect. And with Ferrari having settled with their drivers (and with their amazing team binding) the job looks ominous for McLaren. Oh the same old storey, so boring.....yawn. But here is where things start getting interesting. The enormously under achieving Toyota team has everyone talking in hushed tones what with the Jarno Trulli’s stunning lap at Barcelona which matched the timings of Ferrari and McLaren. However the complexity of different configurations used in winter testing makes comparison of teams just based on lap times a bit erroneous. And more often than not a team that set the timing charts on fire during testing, disappears into oblivion during the course of the season. Anyways just one good lap (or even one good race for that matter) will not be enough to get the Cologne based team out of their predicament.
A team with real potential and expectations from everyone is BMW Sauber. They were certainly in a class of their own last year, though behind the front two, but also far clear of the chasing pack. This year have they improved on it is tough to say. This because their entire pre season schedule has been under such thick wraps that even Mr. Stepney would have found it tough to get something out of there. Their biggest virtue is that they’ve probable the most affable and committed pair of drivers. And the tenacity shown by both of them last season (more so by Robert after the horrendous crash) was the single biggest reason for their consistent strong finishes throughout the season. However, they’ve not been without problems from whatever little testing data has come out, and speculations exist about their (in)ability to save tyres over a race distance. That they will be strong is certain, but its the top step of the podium that is their aim now, and for that they need to be better than just strong.
Coming to what many believe can be the surprise package of this year – Renault. The biggest change certainly is the return of Fernando Alonso and that has taken the entire team in a different level of self confidence. But just this cannot be certainly enough, and the car has also not shown anything that could cause an upset. I guess Alonso will just have to get used to fighting in the mid-field on track this year, and that is certainly better than fighting with your teammate off the track. Rest of the pack is probably the toughest to suggest. Williams seem to down in the rut, though with two good drivers and the history they’ve got, one can never take them for granted. Red Bull, Torro Rosso and Force India will pretty much slug it out among themselves. The winner here will feel as if it has won a championship in itself, and it is these drivers with their occasional cameos who can jumble up things and leave the top teams fuming at times. As for Super Aguri, with their present troubles anything above a start and few good laps would be bonus for them.
Now coming to the enigmatic Honda. No one really seems to understand what is wrong here. A team with an illustrious history, experience, money and two race winning – not to mention quite experienced – drivers, was the biggest disappointment last season. With all due respect to their novel “green” campaign, just fancy marketing ideas don’t get you glory in the cut throat world of Formula1. And the car that Jenson Button called the “dog” last year looks just as troublesome in its new incarnation too. However they’ve hired the mercurial Ross Brawn as the team principle this year, and they don’t come any better than him. There is no question about his virtuosity and that he will lift the team up, but when even he starts talking about 2009, the rules it’ll bring and their effects on his team, you know something is really wrong. The season’s not even started and already Ross is pinning his hopes on next year. You really got to feel for Button and Barrichello, they know that they’ve got the talent to fight with the best but are driving a raucous (otiose) beast that listens to no one, not the engineers, not the drivers and not to the steering either!
All said and done, this season is bound to throw a few surprises, as there is hardly any driver on the grind who has raced in F1 without the electronic wizardry to bail him out in sticky situations. Hence rest assured we’ll witness smoky starts, lots of oversteer and drivers losing it at times. Though again this is expected more from down field rather that the top guns, who should by now have accustomed to these new uncontrolled beasts. Coming to the off field spice, well what’s Formula1 without a little controversy to keep us interested, but it certainly does not seem to be touching last year’s levels. The biggest reason being the change in the driver line up of McLaren. Also this year we all get to see the first ever night race is history of the sport, which I personally believe is going to be a stupendous success. I watched the season opening MotoGP race in Qatar under lights, and what a spectacle it was. The track looked like a picture of heaven with an uncanny halo all over it, and did the bikes GLEAM. WOW!!! I just can’t wait for the Singapore round. That it is a new track for everyone, is the icing on the cake.
All said and done its good that we get now to see the action and then comment on it, rather than build castles in air and ogle over them, reviewing our reviews more than what is actually on the ground. In short if you ask me I don’t see the Kimi-Ferrari combination being beaten. However I would love to see BMW constantly pestering the top two. But then there is something much more this season for us Indians. Yes Force India, and the reason I’ve refrained from commenting on it is, that the team has gone under so many changes (three owners in as many years in unsettling to say the least) it is virtually hazardous to even talk about it. Got to watch it – with fingers crossed – over the first couple of races. They certainly have a fighting chance with probably the best driver among its direct rivals, in the form of Giancarlo Fisichella, and an extremely committed owner. Let the good times roll then...........
No comments:
Post a Comment