Ferrari Looking Good For 2007

[Hein]

I am assuming TGF does not retire of course! Here's my reasoning:

1) Schumie is still the best and still wants it sooooo bad!
2) They will be the only top team with intimate knowledge of Bridgestone.
Honda is not up there, and its gonna take them a while.
3) If they get Kimi they will have the best 2 drivers on the grid. If Massa
stays, he should be settled in nicely and very fast (not so crash happy).
4) Alonso will not be so consistant in a McLaren (if you take their current
record). He will also take a while to settle in.
5) Even if Renault is still the benchmark car, Fisi does'nt seem to have the
concistancy to be champ. And who will be his partner?
6) JPM - If he stays with McLaren, he still has a car that lets him down, and
if he gets the boot he will have to start from scratch with a new team.

I can say a lot more, but lets hear your comments.

[marzF1rocks]

No suprise There

[Marbot]

They'll still be red won't they?

[Dutton]

Originally Posted by Hein

1) Schumie is still the best and still wants it sooooo bad!

The first part is purely personal opinion, thus it cannot really be used as a form of substantive reasoning.

The latter, I think, is observably obvious.

Originally Posted by Hein

2) They will be the only top team with intimate knowledge of Bridgestone.

Honda is not up there, and its gonna take them a while.

I think Williams and Toyota can reasonably be considered top teams. I presume this year's worth of working with Bridgestone doesn't make them have "intimate knowledge" of them? Why do you bring up Honda?

I do agree, however, that Ferrari stand to be in a beneficial position regarding 2007 when it comes to tyres. I think, though, it will manifest itself as in indirect relationship. Partly they will most likely produce a better package, but the sheer number of years of development of their cars and system with Bridgestone in mind must give some kind of stability advantage. This is a different thing to having an outright superior understanding of the specific 2007 specs etc.

Why did you bring up Honda? It is an underperforming "top team" that is currently using Michelins. The "nationality" of Honda, or something?

Originally Posted by Hein

3) If they get Kimi they will have the best 2 drivers on the grid. If Massa stays, he should be settled in nicely and very fast (not so crash happy).

The judgement that Kimi-Michael would represent the best line-up on the grid is purely personal opinion, thus it cannot really be used as a form of substantive reasoning.

A Kimi-Michael partnership would be rather class. Whilst it would surely aid the WCC campaign, I would say it must, potentially, reduce their chances of securing the WDC.

Sadly, I question whether any dramatic improvement will occur with Massa. Don't get me wrong: I like the guy, think he has potential, and I hope he improves...but...I wouldn't bet my blokebits on it.

Originally Posted by Hein

4) Alonso will not be so consistant in a McLaren (if you take their current record). He will also take a while to settle in.

Alonso is an immense talent. He will perform supremely immediately. Any inconsistency, relative to the opposition, will not be related to him.

The Mclaren may well be sub-standard, and thus Alonso may not play a pivotal part of the championship as a whole, and this may help Ferrari, but that is not, as seems to be implied by the phraseology of your point, an Alonso issue.

Originally Posted by Hein

5) Even if Renault is still the benchmark car, Fisi does'nt seem to have the concistancy to be champ. And who will be his partner?

I think this point is totally reasonable. How Renault fair will depend on how their drivers do, and that, ultimately, as things stand, is a pretty large unknown. They could well fail to maximise their package adequately, and this would undoubtedly aid Ferrari.

I agree regarding Fisi, but I would be surprised if he is still there come next year.

Originally Posted by Hein

6) JPM - If he stays with McLaren, he still has a car that lets him down, and if he gets the boot he will have to start from scratch with a new team.

Not sure quite what your point is in bringing JPM up? Just the idea that he is able to be WDC, but he will be sidelined next year by his machinery regardless of where he ends up?

I don't think this final point really aids your case very much. I'm not saying what it says, in and of itself, is necessarily wrong, but I just don't see how it adds anything to your argument in this instance.

[Bononi]

Monza.


That's where we all will know about TGF's future.

[Alwaysfirst]

I wouldn't say all is looking rosy for Ferrari next year. Remember the design team that has designed all the winning cars for Schumi is being phased out = no more continuety on the designer front. Schumi may still yet leave after all attacked him at Monaco. I really can't see Ferrari pairing Kimi & Schumi, much as I would love to see it. McLaren & Renault may be loosing at least 1 top driver each but they will probably be replaced by Hamilton & Kovalainen & I believe that both of them could be world champions. The only thing really in Ferrari's favour is having been on Bridgestones this year & I can see all the others doing more winter testing than usual to catch up (ie. running more cars at each test day, rather than running more test days)

[Greenback]

Relative to Renault and Mclaren, Ferrari's package for 2007 definitely look good.

a) Mclaren MP22 (without AN) and Bridgestone will be big question marks for the team. If they are going to lose both JPM and Kimi at the same time, I am sure this will add more complication to the team's development.

b) Renault without Alonso and Brigdestone will be the biggest issue. However with Renault committment to 2007 and their strong technical team, I am sure they will be in better position to overcome the problem.

for 2007, I think it is going to be Renault and Ferrari year again.

[Hein]

Dutton,

Why shoot me down?

1) Did I say Honda? Oops, meant Toyota.

2) The part about Shu still being the best - of course it's a personal opinion (I am entitled to one?), same goes for Kimi. To me they are the top two (with Alonso a close third). And I cannot be the only one thinking that.

3) The obvious point (Shu still wanting it), just mentioned it to back up my statement.

4) Massa, give the guy till end of the year. I think he will surprise us.

5) Alonso/Mclaren - Most definately not an Alonso issue. I don't for a second doubt his talent and skill, just don't think (personal opinion again) that the car will be able to be so consistant again. (Kust ask Kimi).

6) JPM - Suppose to be one of the best (paddock speak). I am just mentioning that I don't regard him as a threat to Ferrari (regardless for whom he drives).

2007 will be Ferrari's year (and Schu's 8'th WDC), and I would not be told otherwise

[chunterer]

Hein, I think you make a lot of sense.

No doubt about Schu's talent still being up there (but I still don't think he'll be on the grid next year??!!)

Slightly disagree with you about Alonso, I now think he is the defacto numero uno driver in F1, regardless of Kimi and Schu's up and down form.

Bang on re Massa, I think the guy is seriously quick and has the rest of the season to hone what he needs to do, in order to become much more of a threat next year, whoever is his teammate that he has to deal with.

Yeah, the JPM thing is frustrating me - he was for me the outright most talented 'non schumi', but both Alonso and to a lesser extent Kimi because he is a bit inconsistent, have eclipsed JPM overall.

But as you say all these permeables suggest Ferrari could well be the force...

However I just have a feeling that if he manages to get himself a consistent front running car agian next year (or at least something he can play with a bit?) he could still be in the mix.

[Hein]

Thank you Chunterer

Let's hope he does'nt retire, the sport will not be the same without TGF!

We'll see what Alonso does next year (I am not discounting him, you never can, just the car is not there).

Anyway, always nice to speculate.

[FPV GTHO]

Ferrari are are an advantage by being the fastest current Bridgestone team, but that can mean nothing next year. Renault, McLaren and Honda will be under pressure to adapt to the tyres, Toyota will be under pressure to come good, and Williams will be a big question mark. Ferrari on the other hand could be revelling in a carryover tyre and keeping MS, or he could retire and they'll be adapting themselves around Kimi. Any part of that could shake things right up.

[Greenback]

Offer topic.

Does anyone know if there is a website where you can check which driver is running on used and new engine on each race weekend?

[Robarto]

Originally Posted by Greenback

Offer topic.

Does anyone know if there is a website where you can check which driver is running on used and new engine on each race weekend?

This one does. It's in dutch but i think you'll manage

http://f1-club.be/nieuws/verslag.php?id=1530

[marzF1rocks]

Ferrari , have been at the top for a fair few years.
It will Be really intresting to see what happens with driver line ups, But all in all i don't think we have any worries about them falling to the back of the grid.. But i wonder if the transition of yellow and red will be made on the car, like on the overalls.

[Bononi]

It's all getting bored again with Renault winning everything...

I don't think there will be any transitions in the colors.

[marzF1rocks]

As we all Know its all change round at renault. So there is a chance they may not be as strong without Alonso. I don't think anyone is good enough to replace him...

[Dutton]

Renault haven't been that outright dominant, I don't think. The results on the ground have given them greater points advantages than they potentially may have received. I think the majority of the remaining races could go either way. That is, I expect Ferrari (more specifically Michael) to give Renault (more specifically Alonso) a run for their money. Whether or not it will be enough is another matter.

Last year they didn't "win everything", by a long stretch, and I expect it to be the same this year.

Anyway, this is not very relevant regarding next year.

Or, Bononi, were you suggesting you can see Renault dominating next year?

[Bononi]

There are people saying that Flavio has the "next big thing" at hand to substitute Alonso...

[marzF1rocks]

I'd Like to know who it is, Time will Tell

[Bononi]

Originally Posted by marzF1rocks

I'd Like to know who it is, Time will Tell

You don't have to wander too much far from this very forum...

[marzF1rocks]

Have wandered, but its just speculation nothing solid.... this season not over yet and im already looking forward to next years season

[champion]

Does anyone know why schumacher had yellow on his race suit? I was watching the monaco Gp and from the cockpit cam, it showed that he had yellow sleeves, is it a new sponsor or something or just a change??

[Hein]

Originally Posted by champion

Does anyone know why schumacher had yellow on his race suit? I was watching the monaco Gp and from the cockpit cam, it showed that he had yellow sleeves, is it a new sponsor or something or just a change??

Heard it was something to do with football (in support of Germany). Not sure though.

[Hein]

How rude of me not te mention - Welcome to Ten-Tenths!

[Sodemo]

So then we get back to the favoritism arguments of 1999, 2000 and 2001 when many of Ferrari's rivals were unhappy at the treatment they had recieved.
From what I recall McLaren left Bridgestone for Michelin in 2002 as they felt they were getting a raw deal in terms of development compared to Ferrari.

So I guess this whole mill is going to start turning again...