Austria Run-up

[GaySchumi 0]

Alright, so what's new ? 'Silly Season' has begun(and started Fading too ?? ...), Toyota has opened their account for 2003, albeit with CDM, Williams will go below ground level if they sink any lower , Villenueve's in a sorry state against 'pretty boy' Button, Sauber is lacking some major mojo, and McLaren is managing to make even the most ardent fan, somewhat miffed with their apparent nonchalance... (Well, that's my state of mind )

Oh yeah, Renault's managed to take a lot of fans by surprise too. As far as Austria goes, I don't think they'll do too badly, even though the track does call for a high-powered engine, there's also the increased drag, which Renault seems to handle better than most right now ....

Anybody seen the reports linking BMW with Sauber ? Ridiculous I'd say, Williams is pretty ineffective in the chassis dept. currently, but their resources are far greater than Sauber's. Unless BMW decides to take over BAR, and go it alone, since BAT'll have to leave soon ...

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Yea, the BMW and Sauber links aren't too credible though, VW and Sauber seems more likely at this point and even that is just a friendly relationship between Mr. Sauber and Pischetsrieder of VW.

I think Villeneuve will go to Renault, Trulli will end up at BAR, and Alonso will fade away when Villeneuve blows him up the bunghole! My perfect silly season right there, it could only get better with Nico Rosberg and Heikki Kovalainen of Finland joining the ranks

I think the best part of this break between races has been the whole Zanardi thing. That is just fantastic, simply incredible, hats off!

[nichosnz 0]

I actually think Villeneuve would be blown by Alonso. JV is a has-been, but FA is a will-be.

[Sato 0]

my prediction is Webber to stay at jaguar till the end of 2005....oh wait that already happened

my real prediction is for ralf to be droped by williams and justin wilson to get the drive...well i can dream can't i?

[GaySchumi 0]

Doubt that Ralf will be dropped, simple marketing principle : BMW says Ralf's there , unless maybe - Williams drop Ralf, and pick Nick Heidfeld, or maybe Volkswagen can come into F1 under the Porsche/Audi name , and join up with Williams or Sauber, or maybe ....

Anyway, Renault supposedly have 20 HP's more ... who knows ? OH, anbody notice that ITV's got HP numbers for all cars except Toyota ? <_<

On a totally unrelated note, did Ford buyout Nissan ? Just wondering since they already own Mazda, Volvo, Aston Martin, Jaguar, and Rover !!

[nichosnz 0]

A few years ago Renault bought a part of Nissan, so I doubt that Ford have bought Nissan or a part of it.

Funny, no Toyota HP figures considering F1-ITV.com is 'brought to you in association with' Toyota.

[Sato 0]

well free 1 is over and jag is doing great especially jungle boy

1. 5 COULTHARD McLaren Mercedes M 1'08"836 226.242 Km/h 21

2. 7 TRULLI Renault M 1'08"944 + 0'00"108 28

3. 15 PIZZONIA Jaguar Cosworth M 1'08"961 + 0'00"125 15

4. 1 M.SCHUMACHER Ferrari B 1'08"968 + 0'00"132 32

5. 14 WEBBER Jaguar Cosworth M 1'09"023 + 0'00"187 26

6. 8 ALONSO Renault M 1'09"071 + 0'00"235 25

7. 17 BUTTON BAR Honda B 1'09"374 + 0'00"538 27

8. 9 HEIDFELD Sauber Petronas B 1'09"374 + 0'00"538 26

9. 16 VILLENEUVE BAR Honda B 1'09"429 + 0'00"593 25

10. 3 MONTOYA Williams BMW M 1'09"530 + 0'00"694 25

11. 10 FRENTZEN Sauber Petronas B 1'09"800 + 0'00"964 23

12. 2 BARRICHELLO Ferrari B 1'09"826 + 0'00"990 28

13. 4 R.SCHUMACHER Williams BMW M 1'09"961 + 0'01"125 22

14. 6 RAIKKONEN McLaren Mercedes M 1'10"019 + 0'01"183 26

15. 11 FISICHELLA Jordan Ford B 1'10"089 + 0'01"253 20

16. 12 FIRMAN Jordan Ford B 1'10"296 + 0'01"460 22

17. 21 DA MATTA Toyota M 1'10"494 + 0'01"658 26

18. 20 PANIS Toyota M 1'10"504 + 0'01"668 19

19. 19 VERSTAPPEN Minardi Cosworth B 1'10"903 + 0'02"067 14

20. 18 WILSON Minardi Cosworth B 1'11"060 + 0'02"224 16

interesting seesion IMO

[nichosnz 0]

Trulli faster than Alonso again, when it doesn't count. Renault do not expect to do well here, so their postions must be a boost, even if they slump in the Qual sessions, as it will give even more to build on.

[Sato 0]

Qual 1 over...

damn red cars at the top again

Weeber P3!!!!!!1

ralf last..i dunno what he did

jungle boy back to 9th.....

another intresting session

[GaySchumi 0]

Hats off to Webber !! If only Jaguar could bring some reliability into the package as well, I don't see why a top 5 position is out of reach for Webber.

Sauber gets more dismal with each passing Day, at least Nick managed to get ahead of HHF. And Renault really is pathetic on this track, guess I have to eat some Humble pie !!

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Did you all see Firman? He spun at the last turn and wrecked his car, but still got a time as he slid over the finish rear first

This means he is second tomorrow, with Ralf behind him as he didn't set a time. Ralf spun off quite innocently at turn three, but beached it.

[pumpdoc 2]

Just got back from a out of state job in the 'Boonies' no paper no speed-tv no sqaut nuttin-----hehehehe so Ralf's doing track sweeper duties on Sat. hehehehehe. Whats up with the BAR's somebody spike the petrol?????? Q-Session 2 should be interesting.. looks like everyone's going to fight for grid 3 on back------GO RED!!!----just wondering??? with all the rule changes ment to knock Ferrari down oops I mean put someone else in the cat bird seat isn't this starting to look like old times???? It will not be easy to take'em down!! YOU JUST DON'T SEE THEM PANIC it's stay the course and let all others self imolate-----IMO.........

[GaySchumi 0]

Another disappointing run from Villenueve, and I'd picked him to land third instead of Kimi !

Why didn't they clean the track after Villenueve littered it ? It pretty much spoiled the runs of a couple of other drivers ...

And how many think Heidfeld'll be the first to pit tomorrow ? No way, he could take P4 without running light !! The fact that a couple of top drivers lost out due to differing circumstances helped too I guess...

Anyway, until tomorrow ! Oh, heard the MP4-18 will be running next week !! Hope they release some pics !!!

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Wednesday is the day for the new Mclaren, I'll be sure to post pics here!

Anyway, that was a fantastic qualifying session, simply incredible! Schumacher pulled out a fantastic last sector, but oh boy did Kimi get close! The Ferrari's are coming under pressure, remember that they have the new car and Mclaren has last year's, so the MP4-18A will likely be a corker!

[nichosnz 0]

David Coulthard did a brilliant job, no less than 3 driver errors on his timed lap!! Hahahaha, oops sorry shouldn't be so rude *giggle*

[pumpdoc 2]

BOY what would you give to be at turn 1 at the start;Kimi will prob.pull up with Schumi while JPM goes charging like a bull runs into both causes a 10 car carbon fiber explosion-they won't red flag it and a Minardi or Toyota will take the checkers with only 2 cars finishing.......oops I forgot it will be run in a driving rain/hail storm and the full wets will only last 6-7 laps and they will run out of them and have to finish on inter. thats why the rest of the field doesn't finish------OK back to reality it'll be pins-n-needles at the start I just can't bring myself to trust JPM I think he'll c##K-it-up big time trying to win it on the first corner/lap.......As for the Ferrari guys being bummed about the F-2003 not able to smoke the MP4-17D I'd say look what M.S. did after his bobble in the first sector---having to deal with the dirt on track---------to come back after that and be on pole WELL DONE!!!!!!!! Mumbles Kimi still has a way to go before he's champ you first have to lose a title race before you can win one--------and the new format still sucks F1 will be comiting suicide if it doesn't change back to run your best-quickest-kick butt set up for grid position In My Most opionated opion.......

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Interesting one you bring up there, to lose a championship race before you win it. It actually makes a lot of sense, looking at Jacques Villeneuve for example in 1996 and 1997.. Then again, Mika Hakkinen was never a contender for the championship until 1998, and once he got the car he delivered the results..

I probably could not be anticipating the start with more enthusiasm right now. This time it is Kimi and Michael on the front row, but last time it happened at Spa last year there isn't room/time to do anything at La Source, so I will be interested to see how Kimi can go and will Michael swerve

JPM is a frightening third though, you never know with him if he's going to get a little bit.. let's say.. ambitious. Especially as he's lining up behind Michael..

I think Villeneuve also deserves credit for slide of the decade, he went through turn one completely rally-style, if you look from helicopter cam, he went through the turn with front and rear wheels pointing the same way! Michael's slide was similar, but it actually seemed to help him more than hurt him. Looking from helicopter cam, the slide actually turned the car perfectly for him and he was going straight in the right direction at the apex when the tyres gripped again - very lucky/skilled move there! I'd like to think that it was a result of him being under pressure though...

[pumpdoc 2]

Good observation on JV only I'd rank his move in more of a desert off-road type of save he did get some air!!!!!!! and I like to think of Schumi's save as pure exp./thous. hours track time.....

[nichosnz 0]

It is all looking like being a bit exciting, MS will want his first unaided-Austrian-win though so he will be aware of Kimi and JPM.

[pumpdoc 2]

Thats when the exp. factor kicks in sometimes its best to let your opposition take each other out and then go past the carnage just giving the young pups that ole hound dog look as if to say 'young'ns ya got to pace yourself---got to finish to win yup