Williams..... 2nd or 3rd ???

[Speed]

- McLaren is having some serious problems with their engines. (48 points)
- Williams is getting results, and going up. (28 points)

Do you think Williams can take Second place (Constructor´s Championship) this year ?

[Valve Bounce]

Not unless JPM improves his performance. I would like to see Alonso in the second Williams seat next year. Or Kimi Raikonen - I think either of these drivers would offer great results in a top car. Wins and other podiums.

[Raven]

Valve: Look at it this way - Montoya is in his first year of F1; He's lead 2 races, qualified on the front row & had podium finish... He has matched Ralf, he has beaten Ralf, he has been beaten by Ralf. He has impressed (Brazil), he has disappointed (Canada). That is all within 8 races. there are still 9 races to go. Now you could say his performance has been more on the unimpressive side than the impressive, and I would agree based on the last two races. But I feel so much expectation has been built up by the media, anything less than Ralf is a failure.

In retrospect, the only thing left for him to do is take a pole and win a race. Easier said than done, but I for one wouldn't be surprised to see it happen.

[Valve Bounce]

Raven - I would like to see JPM finish in the points for a few races, just to get the hang of racing to finish in F1. I had tipped JPM to be the next non Ferrari/McLaren driver to win, remember? I guess many of us are a little disappointed with his performance this weekend. Wait a couple of weeks, and this will all blow over, and we will wish JPM on again.

[Raven]

Yeah, agreeing with you 100%. I suppose talking about the escapades of “JPM the crasher” for almost a whole month clouds the thoughts of him leading the Brazilian G.P and what he is capable of doing when everything is ticking. All drivers have bad races, bad patches… How many mistakes did ol’ Ralfie boy make in 97?
I would like to see a few more finishes too, but hey, only twice has it been JPM’s fault that the he hasn’t made it, the other 5 have been the car or someone else’s fault.
-Reading JPM + P.Head’s comments, Canada may well have been a technical fault too.
Whatever - the important thing now for JPM is to re-establish himself back where he was after the Brazilian/Spanish G.Ps – as a race contender or a points/podium scorer.

On the topic of this thread, I guess realistically speaking, MS has the title all but in the bag. The remaining races we just have to see what Williams and Mclaren are capable of doing to up set the form book. Williams have got the performance to beat Mclaren so it would seem, but beating them 1 time out of 4 won't get them 2nd place. Williams BMW + Michelin + reliability = look out!

[Wrex]

Originally posted by Raven
anything less than Ralf is a failure.

Well yes, it is.

I'm sorry, but this is Formula 1, the ultimate drivers championship. Despite the fact it's not always the case, these are suppose to be the best 22 drivers in the world. He's not a pay driver, or a novice to motorsport.

I hoped (but did'nt expect him to) he would come straight out of the blocks, and on the rare occassion, he has shown some of his former brilliance.

But he has mouthed off at the current and Ex World champions, like he is on there level already, so that is what he is being judged on. His own self-proclaimed hardstick, not mine.

So anyone that talks like he does about Michael, thinks of himself as at the top of the field, and with that measurement, he is a failure (so far, please read that again, so far)

Originally posted by Raven
In retrospect, the only thing left for him to do is take a pole and win a race. Easier said than done, but I for one wouldn't be surprised to see it happen.

Neither would I, but he does need a serious attitude adjustment before this will happen. He's playing with the big boys now.


Back to topic, Williams have a good chance at 2nd, but when Mika wakes up, they'll just fall short.

[Total-F1]

None of them are novices to Motorsport - they've all been Karting since they 8/9/10 years old - but how can you not have a go at Verstappen for making so many mistakes when he has been in F1 since '94?

[Ralf's Girl]

Originally posted by Raven
He has matched Ralf, he has beaten Ralf, he has been beaten by Ralf.

Matched...I would say no.
Beaten...once, in qualifying.
Been beaten...frequently.

On the subject itself, I think that at this stage Williams will not take second because their reliability doesn't seem to be totally free of gremlins yet. But if JPM matures (which he needs to do before he is looking like a true race-winner) and Ralf keeps driving as he is doing, I see no reason why they can't take second in the WCC. But that, of course, is completely dependent on McLaren, DC and Hakkinen.

[Speed]

I think 60% of this depends on JPM future results. Because RS is running good. The other 40% dependes on McLaren's cars reliability.

[Bononi]

Well, I tend to agree with Valve here.

BUT I will add another point, wich has been eluded by Ralf : The tyres !

Michelin is the rookie in case, and they perform better in hot tracks rather than in the cold, so we can expect some bad performances.

JPM the other rookie, needs an improvement in his goals, and try to keep on the road and get to the final lap... and points will be welcomed !

[ma]

Amoungst all the hysterical claims against JPM that seem to be the rage of this forum lately, I'd just once like to be shown an ACCURATE, NOT-OUT-OF-CONTEXT quote from him where he has publicly, for the media, bad-mouthed anyone in F1, drivers and teams included, other than the totally justified few comments he has made when someone on the track attempted to pull a dirty deed on him (like JV short-braking him on a corner exit, and then publicly blaming JPM for his (JV's) subsequent crash).

Somehow I don't think that you'll find any.

[Minardi fan]

Montoya lacks consistency, and unfortunately Ralf has shown him the way all season.

Whilst Kimi and Fernando have been superb all season, and Enrrrrique has improved from race to race, Montoya has failed to impress consistently, and makes you wonder just who brought up all the hype about him before the season started.

[ma]

Gee - no takers on my challenge?

What a crock!

[EERO]

I think it will be close, but that McLaren by dint of a more experienced driving team and more consistent Bridgestones will come out ahead.

I believe it was Murph who suggested that the second half of the season will favor the Williams Team's combo of BMW engines and Michelin Tires. If its hot and dry at Monza and Hockenheim, I will be surprised if Williams doesn't win. Hungary will be interesting because Hakkinen consistently does well there but the usual excessive heat may favor the Michelins. But at the end of the season, I expect Ferrari will be first and that Mclaren and Williams will be not very far behind in Second and Third, respectively.

[enzo]

Well, ma, looks like no one has the ammunition to back up their blathering about JPM supposed 'arrogance & badmouthing', yet they insist on continuing the same in other threads!

This is really getting hillarious!