Richards remains cautious and optimistic...

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From ITV-F1.com:

RICHARDS REMAINS CAUTIOUS

Last Updated: Tuesday, 13 April , 2004, 17:35

David Richards is keeping his feet on the ground despite the team’s recent success.

BAR have scored two podiums in three races so far this season earning plaudits from all around – including Ferrari World Champion Michael Schumacher, who now sees Jenson Button has his nearest rival.

The team now lie joint-third with Williams in the constructors' standings but while they could have been excused for getting over-enthusiastic about their results, they have instead done the exact opposite and played down their recent success.

Richards told The Sunday Times: “Anyone who thinks we’re near the summit of this sport is deluding themselves and needs to wake up.

“A couple of podium finishes is encouraging, but when a team has been in existence for six years without a sniff of a win, any crumbs from the table are going to be greeted with joy.

“We have a long way to go.”

Richards is all too aware that staying at the top requires just as much effort as making big strides further down the pack.

He added: “There are people who think it will all come good early next year, but it won’t.

“The momentum is there, but the higher we go, the more effort we have to put in for a smaller improvement.”

But he remains ambitious and believes Ferrari will not be leading the pack forever.

He said: “While Ferrari’s commitment and effort is massive, they won’t go on forever.

"The day is coming when another team picks up the mantle, probably a young team that has taken a different approach — like us. And that day isn’t so far away.”

[webber 0]

i think that right now BAR is the 2nd ir 3rd best team thay are way better than Mclaren(as is half the feld) probly just ahead of Renault, who has seemed to have lossed some steam with FA having two bad Quli proformaces in a row adn then thay may well be better than Williams

[nojvnof1 0]

If BAR can keep developing the car and keep implementing significant improvements on the aero and engine side, then I can only see them improving.

[C.A.L. 0]

BAR at least is showing some trying efforts to build on some strengths from last year. Button is steady ,but not flashy and the consistantiency he can maintain coupled with better reliability that he was given with last years car is the most BAR can hope for in their quest to get up the field.

I am still of the opinion that the BAR will fall back as the others pick up their concentrated efforts. I can not see Aloseone continue to flaunder in qualifing or Kimi's engines doing 6 DNF's in a row.

More potential lies with the Williams /Renault/McLaren teams than BAR improving at a faster rate. Sato is the unknown element at BAR.

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As of now, I can’t see BAR beating Williams or Renault in the constructor’s championship. BAR have improved immensely from last year and are doing very well at the moment. However, I am not totally convinced in the reliability of the Honda engine, or of Sato’s talent as an F1 driver. Williams have two good drivers (Ralf is a solid if often unimpressive driver), a very good engine and a competent chassis – The only reason BAR are level with Williams in the constructors championship is because JPM fell well down the field after looking set for a 3rd place finish at Bahrain and Ralf had a poor race. It is my opinion that, over the course of the season, Williams will regain momentum and pull away from BAR in both championships. Renault is a different matter. Renault should be higher in the constructor’s championship – Alonso’s qualifying mistakes have cost him and Renault badly, as he has had to come through the field, finishing in a lower position than he is capable of. I see Renault beating BAR but only if Alonso qualifies in a position which matches his talent on a consistent basis, and if the Renault engine can be improved. I predict a close battle between Renault and BAR this season.

[webber 0]

yep Buttons 3rd in the Barian GP was very lucky but hay that motorsport. i can see williams betting BAR and well only if Alnoso can get his act together will Renault beat BAR. there is no way that Mclaren will Beat BAR. if Mclaren keap the way that thay are then Jag has a rell good chance of beating them. but Mclaren does have a lot of testing so thay should get over there problems.

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McLaren can beat BAR in the Constructor’s championship as long as they get their act firmly together within 5 or so races. It’s a long season and if McLaren can get the most out of their chassis and, more importantly, make the Mercedes engine both powerful and reliable they will begin to get good results (the odd win would quickly propel McLaren ahead of BAR). McLaren have a good, if underdeveloped chassis, one exceptional driver and one very good driver and a potentially quick engine – they should be able to catch and overtake BAR fairly easily. However, even though it’s very early in the season, I think you can already say that they have effectively lost the Constructors Championship. Ferrari has bulletproof reliability – Michael Schumacher has had 41 races since he last had a mechanical failure related retirement (Germany 2001 - engine!) and so their stranglehold on the Constructor’s Championship is very tight. The Drivers Championship is more competitive but I fear that yet again everyone will find it very difficult to beat Ferrari.

[nojvnof1 0]

Agree with you there Alistair. I can see Williams and eventually Renault beating BAR, but McLaren, I just don't know. BAR certainly have got their act together with a great chassis/engine/driver (as in Button) package. I say next year, wins are a real possibility if development keeps going well. This is where BAR should have been around 2001 or 2002, they (the team and JV) were there or thereabouts in 2000, but didn't build on it, due to many circumstances. They've got a second chance now and shouldn't fall back as they did in 01 and 02.

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But BAR don’t have a great driver line-up. Sato isn’t able to match Button and as soon as McLaren get back on form, Kimi and DC should be able to outscore both BAR drivers, certainly Sato anyway, and thus claw back BAR’s lead in the WCC before overtaking them. McLaren will need to improve soon to be able to achieve this though…

[nojvnof1 0]

But BAR don

[Taku 0]

look at my post again Alistair and look at what's in the bracket. I make mention of Button, not Sato. Their best line up ever was JV and Panis but the car was just a dog in '01 and '02. Imagine JV and Panis in last years and this years cars. Now that would be a lineup. Panis has lost motivation but these would have been the cars to get it back if they're reliable as moreso than not they were quick

panis over button?

i agree that the x factor coming between bar beating renault and mclaren is sato. the engine and car are obviously top-notch and reliable. renault, when on song have 2 very competent and equally-matched drivers. one who can win races through sheer talent (alonso), and the other that can be so damn clinical on his day (trulli-see his qualifying perfomances over the years). their engine could use more power but they are such a solid all-round team. mclaren of course have the drivers and car but not the engine nor reliability. so what's essentially holding all these 3 teams back is:

renault-alonso's erratic sat form

maclren-hello, ilmor

honda-sato's gradual improvement

of course this is a simplified analysis, but i don't think bar's development is going to slow down with respect to any of the other 2 as they obviously have the testing budget to keep up the pace, unlike a team like jaguar. therefore if sato improves at his current pace and is meeting button's high standards by midseason then i can't see why bar can't come 3rd or 4th ahead of at least mclaren. so far "even" sato in the bar is ahead of dc in the mclaren.

[nojvnof1 0]

Yep Panis over Button. When he was testing for McLaren he was praised for his supreme technical feedback and speed. He was setting times similar to Mika and DC. With his developmental skills, BAR would do a lot better than with Button. I'm not slagging Button off, just saying Panis is a better developer than him, when he's motivated and not in his current state at Toyota. Sato is ahead of DC, but just wait until the Mac is back!!

[climber49 0]

MacLaren are in dire straits. (Difficult to make up ground from here).

That leaves W, R and BAR.

W have R$ (what can you say) and Wahn Pablo. (unmotivated, petulant and will start marking time around Nurburg). Difficult to see them before '05.

R Good, well balanced lineup. Alonso will charge at every opportunity. Engine dev will hold them back.

BAR will be there because they have the ULTIMATE WEAPON. (.....No, it's not Britney..)

[Taku 0]

Yep Panis over Button. When he was testing for McLaren he was praised for his supreme technical feedback and speed. He was setting times similar to Mika and DC. With his developmental skills, BAR would do a lot better than with Button. I'm not slagging Button off, just saying Panis is a better developer than him, when he's motivated and not in his current state at Toyota. Sato is ahead of DC, but just wait until the Mac is back!!  

maybe panis will get a test drive with them next year :wink: