Fisi: The Saga Continues

OSTKURVE · 14 Feb 2007, 06:23 (Ref:1840930)

Fisichella was slower than his rookie teammate Kovalainen @ testing today in Barcelona.

It seems as though most have clearly stated that you believe Kovalainen will out perform Fisichella in the upcoming season.

Will today's times be indicative of what lies ahead? Will the veteran Fisichella be over shadowed by Kovalainen the rookie? Is Kovalainen a better contender for the WDC than Fisichella?

**Peter Mallett** · 14 Feb 2007, 06:34 (Ref:1840931)

As has been said before it is testing and we don't know what programmes they are running.

Nothing to see here IMO.

FPV GTHO · 14 Feb 2007, 06:53 (Ref:1840942)

Well testing as stated is pretty unclear, but it seems with McLaren at least, more and more people are predicting Hamilton to get close to Alonso. Now IMO theres a bigger gap between the former team mates than what may or may not arise between Kovalainen and Hamilton, so surely you'd expect the Renault pair to be closely matched.

steve_r · 14 Feb 2007, 09:53 (Ref:1841053)

All these questions will only start to be answered during the first GP weekend.

**Born Racer** · 14 Feb 2007, 11:41 (Ref:1841155)

Quote:

more and more people are predicting Hamilton to get close to Alonso.

Well I've always thought Hamilton'll be closer to Alonso overall than a lot of people here think

knighty · 14 Feb 2007, 11:51 (Ref:1841161)

dont read too much into the test times.........its qualifying that matters.......I have lost count over the years how many times McLaren and many other teams have been jaw droppingly fast in pre-season testing, only to do crap in the seasons races.........the test times mean NOTHING

Knowlesy · 14 Feb 2007, 12:41 (Ref:1841213)

Actually, it's the races that matter. Here, we will get definitive results over the season rather than a sample of one or two tests which are difficult to read in any case.

Certainly, I reckon Heikki will be the faster of the pair. But we can't yet judge for sure.

**Bononi** · 14 Feb 2007, 14:22 (Ref:1841319)

Too early to say, but it doesn't surprise me.

rcarr · 14 Feb 2007, 14:35 (Ref:1841329)

Heikki and Lewis on the front row in Aus, me thinks

that would silence the doubters and also Fisi, hopefully!

Marbot · 14 Feb 2007, 16:09 (Ref:1841400)

Heikki's been using a different front wing.There are just too many variables at the moment to say who is faster than who,especially within a team.Even when you compare teams,you won't get the full picture.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/56736

BootsOntheSide · 14 Feb 2007, 16:50 (Ref:1841429)

Testing proves very little, but I agree that Heikki will be the stronger Renault man overall. Put it this way; my belief there would not have changed if Fisichella were faster in a single one-day test.

Snrub · 14 Feb 2007, 18:22 (Ref:1841504)

The fastest race lap last year was 1:16.6 (let alone qualifying) and DC was fastest today at 1:21.8. Regardless of tires changes that's a BIG difference. My point is that it would appear that no one is even close to pushing their car's potential yet.

TheKing · 14 Feb 2007, 18:25 (Ref:1841506)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snrub

The fastest race lap last year was 1:16.6 (let alone qualifying) and DC was fastest today at 1:21.8. Regardless of tires changes that's a BIG difference. My point is that it would appear that no one is even close to pushing their car's potential yet.

And a small change to the track!

JohnSSC · 15 Feb 2007, 00:41 (Ref:1841787)

And remember last year when, in testing, Honda was faster than everyone.

Then the season started.

safc_fan89 · 15 Feb 2007, 13:28 (Ref:1842139)

It's testing. 'Nuff said.

I've heard people claiming that Raikkonen is overrated, seeing as Massa has, in general, outplaced him through winter testing. So what?! If a driver is only trying to beat his teammate in testing, which I doubt is happening anywhere on the grid, then he shouldn't be testing.

Obi Offiah · 15 Feb 2007, 15:30 (Ref:1842241)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snrub

The fastest race lap last year was 1:16.6 (let alone qualifying) and DC was fastest today at 1:21.8. Regardless of tires changes that's a BIG difference. My point is that it would appear that no one is even close to pushing their car's potential yet.

Remember the circuit has undergone a configuration change this year, with a chicane installed before the final corner.

Obi

Andrew2001 · 21 Feb 2007, 08:39 (Ref:1847049)

It will SUPRISE me if Fisichella can match his Finnish team mate.

Glen · 21 Feb 2007, 10:26 (Ref:1847152)

It won't surprise me one bit. Fisi has had a lean time partnering the outstanding Alonso, and the team naturally favoured the better WDC contender during that time - but he hasn't stopped being an exxcellent driver, despite the current fashion for knocking him. HK has got a lot on his plate learning his F1 craft this season - if he can do that and beat a good drivver like Fisi at the same time… THAT would surprise me.

Mr V · 21 Feb 2007, 16:55 (Ref:1847404)

I honestly believe that HK is the better talent, however, Fisi has 11 season's more F1 experience and track knowledge so that means that Fisi should beat his team-mate (tho i'm not convinced he will), but Fisi doesn't need to just beat Hiekki, he needs to pulvarise him to keep his seat for '08.

Trouble is for Fisi, if Hiekki's anywhere near him come "silly season"and rumours start flying around Fisi's season could end up going the way Jenson's did in 2002 and Jarno's in 2004, after all, Renault (or is that Flav) has a history of it.

Knowlesy · 21 Feb 2007, 17:01 (Ref:1847410)

Fisi won't keep his seat for 2008 anyways. It's Piquet's now, I'm sure. Probably before 2008 actually.

The damage has been done. It was done long ago actually, but he has been given a time extension.

**Bononi** · 21 Feb 2007, 20:57 (Ref:1847524)

Don't let Inigo hear you...

Dudley · 21 Feb 2007, 21:02 (Ref:1847527)

To be honest, it all comes down to.

"Had the WDC and WCC car for 2 seasons"

"Finished 5th and 4th".

Given that the car was good enough that the WDC was won by enough that 5th and 4th was STILL good enough for CC overall, that's pretty damning.

The only confusion is that Fisi's record prior to 2005 looked pretty damned good. Maybe it wasn't, he did have a lot of rookie teammates.

Red Bulldog · 21 Feb 2007, 23:32 (Ref:1847628)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dudley

The only confusion is that Fisi's record prior to 2005 looked pretty damned good. Maybe it wasn't, he did have a lot of rookie teammates.

A lot of people supposedly in the know, including Gary Anderson, rate Fisi and predicted him as one to watch in 2006.
Either they were wrong, Fisi lost the plot, or Alonso is exceptional and flattered the Renault.
I'm beginning to think it's Alonso!

JohnSSC · 22 Feb 2007, 01:30 (Ref:1847669)

While I believe Fisi is the Ultimate Racing Headcase, to be fair to him the Renault seemed way more suited to Alonso's style than Fisi's. Perhaps with the change in the tire rule the car will be more amenable to his own style.

HK seems poised to give Fisi a run for the money, but before I get too excited about him I remember a certain N. Rosberg spoken of as some sort of second coming after one or two races last season and he then quietly disappeared...

Oaksnaf · 22 Feb 2007, 03:46 (Ref:1847710)

Kovalainen is an unkown. We dont know whether he will perform to A grade standards or just flop.

Fisichella is a known. He is not an A grade driver and is known to fall into a downward spiral in performance.

So all Kovalainen needs to do, is keep his head and be consistent. Then job will be done.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Vic State Race Series Inc. - The Saga Continues.......	Kerb Hopper	Australasian Touring Cars.	14	14 May 2004 11:07
Team Green and Tracy ...the saga continues	crazytrain	ChampCar World Series	8	9 Oct 2002 15:43
The Saga continues.	kuchi	Formula One	26	22 Feb 2002 17:30