Uh oh, MS is having fun!

Kirk · 13 Jan 2006, 16:10 (Ref:1500576)

What's this, possibly a first that JV and MS agree ... in that the V8 is fun to drive. When Michael says he welcomes the smaller, less powerful motor and that he is enjoying driving, may that be a warning to his competitors. Though very early, his times to date certainly reflect that he and Ferrari are not quite done yet. Other than those two, I don't recall any other driver praising the new V8 powered cars. Will the V8's favour the veteran drivers, perhaps so?

http://www.formula-1.updatesport.com...-fun/view.html

**John Turner** · 13 Jan 2006, 16:47 (Ref:1500589)

I think Michael loves driving pretty much anything on 4 wheels and if he thinks that these cars are more like go karts, he is bound to enjoy them; takes him a little bit back to his roots. We might see a rejuvenated MS this season, anyway. He has always relished a new challenge!

**Bononi** · 13 Jan 2006, 17:37 (Ref:1500613)

My goodness, we're doomed to watch another 2 or 3 titles won by TGF !!

Kirk · 13 Jan 2006, 17:40 (Ref:1500619)

My first thoughts when the V8 was announced was that the new and inexperienced driver could benefit somewhat with less grunt to contain. But after some of the drivers comments I think a bigger edge will go to the precision drivers with some experience under their belts; and particularly those that are not prone to overdrive the car. It will be interesting to see how that pans out.

Marbot · 13 Jan 2006, 18:03 (Ref:1500634)

It might not be just the V8 engine he likes. http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=34834 It seems that Bridgestone are off to a flier as well.

Dutton · 13 Jan 2006, 19:55 (Ref:1500716)

You seem to like that source martyn, :-).

Alex Hodgkinson · 13 Jan 2006, 20:06 (Ref:1500721)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bononi

My goodness, we're doomed to watch another 2 or 3 titles won by TGF !!

F.O.F. · 13 Jan 2006, 20:35 (Ref:1500747)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bononi

My goodness, we're doomed to watch another 2 or 3 titles won by TGF !!

Dear god no!

Dutton · 13 Jan 2006, 20:37 (Ref:1500749)

I'm doing my best to think negatively.

He is not going to win this year, in fact he will not have any realistic opportunity to, and thus he will retire from the sport.

If I tell myself that, and manage to convince myself of it, then things can only be good (at worst expected).

Kirk · 13 Jan 2006, 20:50 (Ref:1500767)

Why on earth would you hasten Schumi to retire? You may not like him but we have been witness to the greatest streak ever in F1. And what could be better than having Ferrari back into the mix, not dominant, just back in.

Dutton · 13 Jan 2006, 20:54 (Ref:1500773)

If that is in response to my post, I would suggest you read it again.

**Bononi** · 13 Jan 2006, 21:03 (Ref:1500776)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kirk

Why on earth would you hasten Schumi to retire? You may not like him but we have been witness to the greatest streak ever in F1. And what could be better than having Ferrari back into the mix, not dominant, just back in.

I don't dislike him - how can I dislike someone I don't know personally ? - and I agree we're witnessing the most sucessful driver in the history of motorsport so far, BUT I want to see others winning and racing each other. TGF is in another class - level - from all the rest and it makes so boring watching the races.

Sodemo · 13 Jan 2006, 21:49 (Ref:1500826)

I don't understand why Bridgestone were so bad in 2005.

In 2004 Bridgestone could almost do some 30 - 40 laps on one set of tyres, they had incredible durability, so I don't understand why they could not translate this into a one tyre for the whole race.

Kirk · 13 Jan 2006, 22:59 (Ref:1500889)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bononi

I don't dislike him - how can I dislike someone I don't know personally ? - and I agree we're witnessing the most sucessful driver in the history of motorsport so far, BUT I want to see others winning and racing each other. TGF is in another class - level - from all the rest and it makes so boring watching the races.

I'm not going to get into it, but I respectfully disagree. In fact at this stage in his career, I'm not even certain that Schumi is the best driver on the grid. Check that, he is not the best driver on the grid. Kimi is.

Alex Hodgkinson · 13 Jan 2006, 23:05 (Ref:1500891)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kirk

he is not the best driver on the grid. Kimi is.

oh yes he is

Skam85 · 13 Jan 2006, 23:33 (Ref:1500904)

You simply cannot possibly say Kimi Raikkonen is better than Michael Schumacher. What facts do you have to back this up?

Even the line Kimi has potential to be better than Michael is debatable.

Kirk · 14 Jan 2006, 00:16 (Ref:1500939)

Mainly because Michael is prone to contact when the going gets tough, a lot due to his bully-like driving style. Kimi is a pure racer who rarely, if ever, is guilty of such. In equal cars I have little doubt that it would be close but Kimi would come out on top, imo.

rcarr · 14 Jan 2006, 01:21 (Ref:1500957)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kirk

I'm not even certain that Schumi is the best driver on the grid. Check that, he is not the best driver on the grid. Kimi is.

Where is the justification for that statement?

Schumacher won his 1st championship with the second best car on the grid, in his 2nd full season!
Kimi has had a very "quick" car for the passed 3 seasons and he blows it when he has a sniff at the title!

Schumacher is still the man! I reckon he will be back to his winning ways again this season!

**Bononi** · 14 Jan 2006, 01:26 (Ref:1500958)

Boys, we can go on with this forever !

I have the feeling (that it is) TGF still got what it takes to win more WDCs, given the right motivation. Kimi is certainly the best driver in the grid today, simply TGF is in another level, alone.

But then again, that's my opinion, and I'm sure many wouldn't agree and many would.

It's useless to discuss this subject.

Kempi · 14 Jan 2006, 07:14 (Ref:1501012)

Okay, the topic was experienced drivers having fun with the V8s. Not who is better. Would we stick to it, pls? We all know how the "he is better"-threads end: closed.

**John Turner** · 14 Jan 2006, 08:34 (Ref:1501031)

I think it's too early to say that Kimi is better than MS. Furthermore, whilst Kimi may be the fastest, he may not be the best, anyway. If the best isn't Michael, then it maybe Alonso. Get the drift ,,,,, 'around, around in circles....' . I'm with Bononi and Kempi.

I hope that MS does enjoy the new V8s, along with all the other drivers and that we, the spectators do, too!

Pingguest · 14 Jan 2006, 14:35 (Ref:1501152)

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Monster

I don't understand why Bridgestone were so bad in 2005.

In 2004 Bridgestone could almost do some 30 - 40 laps on one set of tyres, they had incredible durability, so I don't understand why they could not translate this into a one tyre for the whole race.

In 2005 we saw Bridgestone having troubles after 30 - 40 laps. Tyre tests were needed to make a tyre to last a whole race. Bridgestone just wasn't able to test that much as Michelin.

Kirk · 14 Jan 2006, 15:13 (Ref:1501164)

Anyway, my point is that it will be interesting to see how the veteran drivers fare and it would be fantastic to see McLaren, Renault and Ferrari cars on fairly even footing (and let the drivers determine their finishing order).

Rennen · 14 Jan 2006, 20:28 (Ref:1501310)

Quote:

Originally Posted by martyn bott

It might not be just the V8 engine he likes. http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=34834 It seems that Bridgestone are off to a flier as well.

Only possible because the cooler air tempreture is more suited to the B's than the M's...this situation is reversed as the tempreture gets up at midday. Also my spy tells me that the quick time M$ set was in a car with an unrestricted V10 not a V8 not even a restricted V10!

Marbot · 14 Jan 2006, 20:34 (Ref:1501314)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rennen

Only possible because the cooler air tempreture is more suited to the B's than the M's...this situation is reversed as the tempreture gets up at midday. Also my spy tells me that the quick time M$ set was in a car with an unrestricted V10 not a V8 not even a restricted V10!

Thanks for that one Rennen.