First up, apologies for not posting much anymore, but have limited access to the internet at the moment. Am very happy to see how well the F1 board is panning out at last after I got the ball rolling here back in January! Anyway, my point is, can anyone see anything other than a complete Mansell-like domination of the drivers championship coming in 2011 from Seb Vettel after what we saw in the first race? How much more have the Red Bulls got left in reserve? Nobody wants to see a procession of a season but is there any chance that this won't happen? I think I'm going to stick my life savings on the wunderkind winning a back-to back championship this year, hopefully first impressions will be right but it would be nice to see a fight at the front!
Don't apologise, just promise to post more in the future. I think Vettel will win the title agan this year but I don't think it will be processional. I think he'll pretty much monopolise qualifying, but the McLaren's tyre conservation will bring them into contention in the races. Remember McLaren have only had Melbourne practice to tune the upgrades they've brought since winter testing; I think there's a lot more performance to come from that car. I wouldn't rule out Alonso either. It's such a shame Kubica had his accident because I think he could've mixed it with them as well this season. A four way title fight between Vettel, Hamilton, Alonso and Kubica would have been thrilling. Oh well there's always next year.
Mansell won 9 of 16 races in '92. Yer talking bolloxs if you think Vettel will be as dominant. McLaren have already shown they are competitve in Melbourne, Ferrari looked quick too. Vettel may be fav to win atm, but it's early days yet and I don't think McLaren or Ferrari are that far behind RBR in terms of "race pace" already.
Assuming he was holding back a little in Aus, things look very good for him and Red Bull. All it takes in one safety car or one poor start and he's in traffic. Mark Webbers car didn't look too well in traffic, but that could of just been his driving style. I'm fairly sure Vettel will have the most wins this season, its just how many more...
If McLaren keep the upgrades coming and remain RELIABLE (very crucial when your not the fastest car as Alonso showed last year). Then Lewis has a great chance to take the title. Vettel is a great driver dont get me wrong but I feel if he was on even performance with Lewis and Fernando he wouldnt be winning races. The true acid test comes when he doesnt qualify on the front row, lets see if hes improved his overtaking ability.
Vettel for me is still a grey area particularily when overtaking, the RB KERs aint working and if he's in traffic and can't get the tyre up to temp he's stuck. The RB is about fully developed and when all thing are well it's virtually untouchable, but a poor qualy will cost them, Webber showed the worth of the RB when in traffic, not that impressive was it. McLaren have a lot more to come from their machine and Lewis can extract the maximum from it even if the car is not perfect. Ferrari are also up there, Mercedes not a hope.
I'm sure Red Bull with have their KERS working for Malaysia, no doubt that's where their resources will be focused this fortnight and they've proven over the last couple of years that they excel in developing their package. Horner said they didn't run it in Australia as a precaution, which suggests to me it was very close to race-ready last weekend.
RB are the epitomy of how an F1 team should be run, autonomous and cash rich, best engineers and designers, competant drivers maybe not the best, flexible dynamic management allowing things to flow and develop whilst not letting it get to out of hand, thats the hard bit.
Interesting read: http://en.espnf1.com/redbull/motorsport/story/44746.html Newey described the KERS issue as trivial, sounds to me like it's something easily remedied. He also mentioned that the problem was "trying to develop the element of it that has been giving us a bit of trouble ourselves and we're not experts in that field." That tie up with Infiniti could come in handy sooner than expected.
It seems the RB intrigue regarding Hamilton is still alive and kicking: Taken from ESPN F1 "First we have to see how the season goes for Mark and what he decides," Marko told Sport Bild. "Definitely with his aggression and his speed, Hamilton must always be a topic. Our philosophy is to have the quickest drivers together in our team."
You'd think with him being in charge of the young driver program, Marko would be trying to get one of his proteges the seat. I think there's very little in the "Hamilton to Red Bull" rumours. Hamilton has said he's happy at McLaren, and I don't think Seb would want Hamilton as his teammate because he'd be more of a threat in a Red Bull than he is in a McLaren.
If RB keep him on the front row of the grid then he has a chance. The RB's weakness is traffic when I suspect it's flewi front wing is compromised by lack of clean air and speed, the RB looks almost dangerous when trying to over tkae, you only need to look at footage of Vettel trying to over take Button at Spa last year to see how the front wing see-sawed as he came out of the McLaren slip stream and unbalanced the car leading to a soin straight into the side of Button. In my mind neither RB driver is particulaly good at overtaking, add this to the car needing to be on the front row then if Ferrari, McLaren, Renault or Merc get a car that can out qualify it then it's good night RB because those cars can overtake as can their drivers.
I'd agree with this. For the first time in years, I find myself on the verge of changing my mind. When testing began, my tip was for Vettel. Even now, there can be little doubt that he is in the car to beat and the politics within that team have always favoured him: he starts with his head in a better place than Webbo who I fear was a beaten man before the season began. Changing my mind? - Yes, perhaps I am. Red Bull have the best car but McLaren have a driver line-up which can offset this so long as they are reasonably close. I didn't think they'd be anywhere near but they are closer than everyone expected. And with probably the most natural talent on four wheels since Jim Clark, they are probably close enough to give Red Bull a far more serious challenge than I predicted six weeks ago.
Yeah, I agree Hamilton is currently happy to stay where he is and his potential opportunities at McLaren are greater than if he moved to RB. Vettel would clearly not relish the idea of the best driver on the grid becoming his team-mate.
I like Vettel as a driver, and to be honest, I'd back him for the title this year based on current form. While I rate him as a brilliant driver, if a Hamilton or Alonso was in the Red Bull, I think Vettel would come out second.
Everyone in '10 was saying he couldnt overtake but in Toro Rosso he was a great overtaker. Its because of the slow top speed of Red Bull, he's probably underrated in overtaking. Tbh I cant remember any great overtake from Webber last year. I see Vettel getting a really good start then the car gets worse and worse but just takes the title. Alonso '06 style.
