2006 Predictions

[kenneth 0]

Right I know its still quite early but this will make for interesting reading after the next season to seee how way out we were!

Kaciaj started the 2005 predictions thread on the 7th of December last year, so we are actually a little later this year!

Right each member post full predictions of where the teams will finish and the Drivers! It will also be good to hear what you think certain teams will do/drivers will do next year, i.e. maiden victories, falls from grace etc.

Here is my very early predictions...

WCC

1. Mclaren Mercedes

2. Ferrari

3. Renault

4. Honda Racing F1

5. Toyota

6. Williams Cosworth

7. Red Bull Racing

8. BMW Sauber

9. Squadra Torro Rosso

10. MF1

I think all the top 5 teams will win a race this year and it will be very close between them all in terms of results. Both Renault and Honda will improve as the season goes on, Toyota and Ferrari will be the early teams to beat but as Renault, Honda and Mclaren develop their cars they will each improve dramatically by the end of the season. I also think Williams wont be that far off, and it will be very close for sixth place between BMW, RBR and Williams but Williams will get it!

WDC

1. Kimi Raikonnen

2. Michael Schumacher

3. Fernando Alonso

4. Jenson Button

5. JPM

6. Rubens Barrichello

7. Fisichella

8. Felipe Massa

9. Jarno Trulli

10. Ralf Schumacher

11. Mark Webber

12. DC

13. Nico Rosberg

14. Nick Heidfeld

15. Klein

16. JV

17. Liuzzi

18. Speed

19. Albers

20. Monteiro

Again the top 6 will each win a race and so will Trulli, Webber too will just miss out on a win at some point in the season where half the front runners retire with some random problems! Button will win 3 races and Barrichello 1. MS will win 4, as will FA and Kimi, JPM will win 2, trulli 1

Cmon man don't use drugs anymore.......

[funkejay 0]

Of course if you can show me hard evidence that Fissi did have inferior equipment I would take it into account, but that was not the case. Why would Renault give Fissi anything but the best equipment after the drivers championship had been sealed and they were chasing the Constructors title? And yet Alonso was still quicker than his team mate.

I am not one of the conspiracy theorists that think Renault intentionally hampered Fisi throughout the year, but there is no question that the R25 suited FA perfectly, and did not at all mesh with Fisi's driving style.

I've made the analogy to the fit of a suit before, i.e. a suit tailor made for Alonso would not fit Fisi, and no wonder it looks better on Alonso. It is very similar with F1 cars, which have very different characterestics from one another. A car designed to maximize the potential of one drivers' style will blunt anothers, such that it actually serves to slow him down. It becomes an obstacle to overcome, whereas it suits the other driver naturally, who can then focus on extracting even more from the car.

And it doesn't take much. Even if it only takes a few tenths of a lap away from the other driver, you are talking about a number of potential grid places, and a significant gap by the end of the race. That is why MS' team mates always struggle, and drivers who have had significant input into the development of a car will always be more comfortable than a driver who has just joined the team.

Next year, Fisi says that he has been given significant input into the development of the R26, so we shall see who triumphs now that a more equal playing field has been established.

[Wez 0]

I am not one of the conspiracy theorists that think Renault intentionally hampered Fisi throughout the year, but there is no question that the R25 suited FA perfectly, and did not at all mesh with Fisi's driving style.

I've made the analogy to the fit of a suit before, i.e. a suit tailor made for Alonso would not fit Fisi, and no wonder it looks better on Alonso. It is very similar with F1 cars, which have very different characterestics from one another. A car designed to maximize the potential of one drivers' style will blunt anothers, such that it actually serves to slow him down. It becomes an obstacle to overcome, whereas it suits the other driver naturally, who can then focus on extracting even more from the car.

And it doesn't take much. Even if it only takes a few tenths of a lap away from the other driver, you are talking about a number of potential grid places, and a significant gap by the end of the race. That is why MS' team mates always struggle, and drivers who have had significant input into the development of a car will always be more comfortable than a driver who has just joined the team.

Next year, Fisi says that he has been given significant input into the development of the R26, so we shall see who triumphs now that a more equal playing field has been established.

Fair enough we'll wait till Bahrain and get back to this discussion

[narain fan 0]

I am not one of the conspiracy theorists that think Renault intentionally hampered Fisi throughout the year, but there is no question that the R25 suited FA perfectly, and did not at all mesh with Fisi's driving style.

I've made the analogy to the fit of a suit before, i.e. a suit tailor made for Alonso would not fit Fisi, and no wonder it looks better on Alonso. It is very similar with F1 cars, which have very different characterestics from one another. A car designed to maximize the potential of one drivers' style will blunt anothers, such that it actually serves to slow him down. It becomes an obstacle to overcome, whereas it suits the other driver naturally, who can then focus on extracting even more from the car.

And it doesn't take much. Even if it only takes a few tenths of a lap away from the other driver, you are talking about a number of potential grid places, and a significant gap by the end of the race. That is why MS' team mates always struggle, and drivers who have had significant input into the development of a car will always be more comfortable than a driver who has just joined the team.

Next year, Fisi says that he has been given significant input into the development of the R26, so we shall see who triumphs now that a more equal playing field has been established.

that sounds like a perfect excuse that RB will make after losing this season to button

[ykickamoocow 0]

I am not one of the conspiracy theorists that think Renault intentionally hampered Fisi throughout the year, but there is no question that the R25 suited FA perfectly, and did not at all mesh with Fisi's driving style.

I've made the analogy to the fit of a suit before, i.e. a suit tailor made for Alonso would not fit Fisi, and no wonder it looks better on Alonso. It is very similar with F1 cars, which have very different characterestics from one another. A car designed to maximize the potential of one drivers' style will blunt anothers, such that it actually serves to slow him down. It becomes an obstacle to overcome, whereas it suits the other driver naturally, who can then focus on extracting even more from the car.

And it doesn't take much. Even if it only takes a few tenths of a lap away from the other driver, you are talking about a number of potential grid places, and a significant gap by the end of the race. That is why MS' team mates always struggle, and drivers who have had significant input into the development of a car will always be more comfortable than a driver who has just joined the team.

Next year, Fisi says that he has been given significant input into the development of the R26, so we shall see who triumphs now that a more equal playing field has been established.

The same could be said for DC and the RB1. I bet the RB2 will be much more to his liking as well.

[funkejay 0]

Fair enough we'll wait till Bahrain and get back to this discussion

Absolutely, and if FA beats Fisi again by a fair margin, then there will be no question that he is the better driver.

[Wez 0]

Absolutely, and if FA beats Fisi again by a fair margin, then there will be no question that he is the better driver.

Ok

[funkejay 0]

Ok

Now all that remains is the wager!!!!

[Wez 0]

For the record my Manufacturer predictions (as of Jan 2006... These might change slightly prior to Bahrain).

1. Renault(Dont ever under estimate them)

2. Ferrari (Similar comment to Renault)

3. Mclaren (Just need to sort out the engines)

4. BAR (Ummm)

5. Toyota (Need to sort out the drivers)

6. BMW Sauber (Team for the future, will surprise this year)

7. Williams (Will NOT improve from last year when switching Bmw for Cosworth)

8. Red Bull (SO so)

9. Torra Rossa (Red Bull should use this money on their main team)

10. Aguri (Honda wasting big time money here)

11. Midland F1 (Cant see them improving from where they ended last year)

[michelfx 0]

For the record my Manufacturer predictions (as of Jan 2006... These might change slightly prior to Bahrain).

1. Renault(Dont ever under estimate them)

2. Ferrari (Similar comment to Renault)

3. Mclaren (Just need to sort out the engines)

4. BAR (Ummm)

5. Toyota (Need to sort out the drivers)

6. BMW Sauber (Team for the future, will surprise this year)

7. Williams (Will NOT improve from last year when switching Bmw for Cosworth)

8. Red Bull (SO so)

9. Torra Rossa (Red Bull should use this money on their main team)

10. Aguri (Honda wasting big time money here)

11. Midland F1 (Cant see them improving from where they ended last year)

OK YOUR #10 is for tax deductible purposes but it adds to the show! this will be the best starting grid in decades.

As for Mclaren, they would surely take the # 1 spot but unfortunately they have HOT HEAD MONTOYA!

Kimi will be the next champion

[michelfx 0]

OK YOUR #10 is for tax deductible purposes but it adds to the show! this will be the best starting grid in decades.

As for Mclaren, they would surely take the # 1 spot but unfortunately they have HOT HEAD MONTOYA!

Kimi will be the next champion

[monza gorilla 1]

You seem to be having a problem today with your quotes.

[pumpdoc 2]

You seem to be having a problem today with your quotes.

Indeed, indeed.........................

[Jem of the Shire 0]

What makes me so excited about 2006 is that there are 8 teams (everyone except Midland, toro & super) all aiming to be at the top, and of course not all of them can win so most of those teams, including some of the major manufacturers, are going to be very disappointed. Plus we really don't know at all who's going to be fastest or slowest, toyota could dominate, honda could, maybe ferrari again, whats strange is that almost no-one is expecting the champions renault to stay on top - have to admit, neither do I. I think ferrari are going to bounce back in a major way, with mclaren at the front too

[Jenson_Rules 0]

i think ferrari v renault for the title! and i think honda will be next up with mclaren and toyota always there challenging and getting the upper hand on the front two quite often but it will come down to these 5 drivers! schumi snr, alonso, kimi, button and jpm! they will be the race winners this year, maybe trulli will win one too and barrichello will win a race as well!

[michelfx 0]

Indeed, indeed.........................

Sorry, just getting the hang of it

[Null 0]

Sorry, just getting the hang of it

you only have to press the reply button or the "add selected text as quote" button...

[nojvnof1 0]

I'll post full predictions in mid Feb or so, but I will say right now that Toyota may finally win not only one race, but multiple races in 2006.

[pumpdoc 2]

I'll post full predictions in mid Feb or so, but I will say right now that Toyota may finally win not only one race, but multiple races in 2006.

[ecapdeville 0]

You seem to be having a problem today with your quotes.

Just to increase post number... dont do that michelfx

[cavallino 2]

Thanks Monza!!!

Yeah, there are a number of reasons for my tipping GF over FA, in addition to the ones you've highlighted.

1) I think that the V8s will favor Fisi more than Alonso, simply because they won't have the power to make Alonso's "neutral steer" style as successful as last year, whereas Fisi is about as smooth a driver as there is in F1, and will carry more speed through the corners, giving him the advantage in '06.

2) The R26 is being designed with Fisi's input, something the R25 lacked, so it should be more suitable to his style than last year's R25.

3) As we all know, Alonso is leaving Renault at the end of the year for McLaren, so by about mid-season or so, he will start to be sidelined during development and testing sessions, giving Fisi a further advantage.

4) Additionally, with Alonso announcing his decision to leave so early in the season, the majority of the emotional and psychological support (the culture within the team if you will) will be behind Fisi, which always results in him going very well indeed.

[Wez 0]

Ive already giving my view on this to Funky Jay.

But I have no need to argue, im quite sure Fernando will do the talking on the track.

[Senna 0]

Ive already giving my view on this to Funky Jay.

But I have no need to argue, im quite sure Fernando will do the talking on the track.

Funkejay makes some good points, but I think Alonso is just so substantially better than Fizzy that the Spaniard will still triumph, regardless of him enduring a less favourable situation within Renault in 2006 (compared to 2005).

Furthermore, when talking about

[Jenson_Rules 0]

indeed

[Wez 0]

Furthermore, when talking about ‘smooth drivers’, DC and JB must be principally mentioned…

I do agree that both of these drivers are smooth, but the fact is to become a world champion you need a bit of a rugged edge.