Formula 1 07

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Tom @ Jan 16 2007, 12:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Don't like it, the red bits look silly, such a shame.
I love it! It'll look great when you see the car going 200mph+ on the track with those red parts on the. Wicked.

OK then, i owe an apology. The new Mclaren looks incredible, just looked at some better photos, and its pretty damn stunning. I shall try to make it to a test session at some point in the summer. No chance i can afford the race weekend ripoff.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Tom @ Jan 17 2007, 12:39 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>OK then, i owe an apology. The new Mclaren looks incredible, just looked at some better photos, and its pretty damn stunning.
It's only personal opinion though so I may love it whilst you may loath it.

<div align="center<span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%<u>Kovalainen Quickest!</u>

<span style="font-size:36pt;line-height:100%<span style="font-family:Comic Sans Ms<div align="centerBMW: KUBICA HAS TO ADAPT STYLE

BMW SAUBER technical director Willy Rampf has admitted star driver Robert Kubica may be forced to alter his driving style because the new-for-2007 control rubber doesn't allow him to drive with the customary aggressive technique.
At the launch of the team's new F1.07 challenger in Valencia on Tuesday, Kubica admitted he was facing problems adapting to the harder Bridgestone tyres, which appear to inhibit his driving style.
He said: "If nothing has changed on the car, then you will probably not see me driving as aggressively as last year. I am worried that I will have to learn everything from new, because I have driven the last five years like this."
Rampf has admitted that Kubica may be forced to compromise his style because the problem would prove impossible to remove with set-up changes.
"The engineers can compensate to a certain degree," he said. "Robert is more aggressive with the car than Nick [Heidfeld] - he turns in quite sharply and, while you can compensate for some of that with the car's mechanical set-up, the rest is simply about the driver adapting to the new tyre characteristics.!
Rampf has targeted next month's Bahrain test as the crucial one for all new Bridgestone runners. It will give teams a chance to get to grips with the Japanese rubber in representative hot weather conditions.
"The Bahrain test will be crucial for everybody," said Rampf. "It will be the first time that we'll know what we really have to do with the tyres. This is a crucial period of acclimatisation for everyone and there is a lot to learn. None of the teams have tried the tyres in hot conditions yet - we've all tried them in fairly cool conditions and we need to run them in hot weather."
Despite the worries over tyes, BMW-Sauber shook down its first F1.07 at Valencia on Tuesday afternoon - Nick Heidfeld said he was happy with the car and reported no major problems during his installation laps.


<span style="font-size:36pt;line-height:100%<span style="font-family:Comic Sans Ms<div align="centerSAUBER CAUTIONS FERRARI OVER KIMI
FORMER SAUBER boss Peter Sauber has warned Ferrari that its technical programme may suffer this season because he feels new driver Kimi Raikkonen is simply not interested in helping a team to develop a car.
Sauber has a unique insight into this season's Ferrari driver pairing, having run both Raikkonen and Felipe <assa in separate stints at his old team.
He said: "After Michael Schumacher's input, it will be a difficult year for Ferrari. Michael was an excellent driver - not only fast, but especially brilliant on the technical side.
"Kimi has his strong side and weak side and i'm sure Jean Todt knows how good he is.
"But Kimi's weak spot is on the technical side - he's not so interested in the technical side of things and that's a very important area for developing the car nowadays."


<span style="font-size:36pt;line-height:100%<span style="font-family:Comic Sans Ms<div align="centerMONTOYA OUT OF F1 FOR GOOD

JUAN PABLO Montoya has said he has already turned down one offer to return to Formula 1 and that he wouldn't even drive for world champions Renault.
Montoya said: "I received a message on my mobile from somebody in Europe; i'm not going to say from whom. The message said that if I found NASCAR boring, they had the doors open for me to return to F1. I laughed so much at it."
When asked whether he's turn down an approach from Renault, he replied:
"Yes. Let me ask you something: what's going to happen this season? Everybody is on Bridgestones and which team is going to win? Ferrari will. They'll probably dominate.
"Honestly, I was going to be in F1 for three or four years more. Here in NASCAR I can race until i'm 45 and i'm still young."

<u><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%The Renault R27 has been launched! Pictures are as of below:</u>














<u><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%Whilst Here Are the Testing Renaults:</u>

New kid on the block Hamilton smashed his new McLaren in Valencia beyond repair, bright side is he got out of it unscathed.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (teomolca @ Jan 25 2007, 11:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>New kid on the block Hamilton smashed his new McLaren in Valencia beyond repair, bright side is he got out of it unscathed.
Good thing is...Alonso didn't!
Alonso went fastest ahead of all the BMW test drivers and drivers.

Valencia - 30/01/2007
1 . F. Alonso - McLaren Mercedes MP4-22 - 1:12.538 (+ 0.000 ) - 96 laps
2 . K. Raikkonen - Ferrari F2007 - 1:13.533 (+ 0.995 ) - 48 laps
3 . N. Piquet - Renault R27 - 1:13.550 (+ 1.012 ) - 31 laps
4 . F. Montagny - Toyota TF107 - 1:13.672 (+ 1.134 ) - 38 laps
5 . J. Trulli - Toyota TF107 - 1:13.722 (+ 1.184 ) - 54 laps
6 . N. Heidfeld - BMW Sauber F1.07 - 1:13.863 (+ 1.325 ) - 56 laps
7 . G. Fisichella - Renault R27 - 1:13.871 (+ 1.333 ) - 37 laps
8 . R. Barrichello - Honda RA107 - 1:14.018 (+ 1.480 ) - 35 laps
9 . S. Vettel - BMW Sauber F1.07 - 1:14.047 (+ 1.509 ) - 81 laps
10 . K. Nakajima - Williams Toyota FW28 B - 1:14.527 (+ 1.989 ) - 79 laps
11 . J. Rossiter - Honda RA106 - 1:14.638 (+ 2.100 ) - 43 laps
12 . T. Sato - Super Aguri Honda RA106 - 1:15.684 (+ 3.146 ) - 31 laps
13 . M. Webber - Red Bull Renault RB3 - 1:15.729 (+ 3.191 ) - 32 laps
14 . L. Badoer - Ferrari 248 F1 - 1:16.388 (+ 3.850 ) - 48 laps

I know it's still early, but I think Mclaren will have a really strong package this season. Will be kinda ...... up (for KR) if Mclaren suddenly is reliable. It's not that I hope they will screw up, cause that's never nice. Was talking to someone a few days ago who thought Kimi isnt the real deal. I'm getting so tired of that. I dunno why they don't get it's bout the car. Ferrari better not screw up, otherwise it will be really hard for Kimi to win a title..ever..

I expect the title fight to be between Mclaren and Ferrari. Renault and Honda might challenge for wins on occasions.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Franco Fangio @ Jan 31 2007, 01:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I know it's still early, but I think Mclaren will have a really strong package this season. Will be kinda ...... up (for KR) if Mclaren suddenly is reliable. It's not that I hope they will screw up, cause that's never nice. Was talking to someone a few days ago who thought Kimi isnt the real deal. I'm getting so tired of that. I dunno why they don't get it's bout the car. Ferrari better not screw up, otherwise it will be really hard for Kimi to win a title..ever..

I expect the title fight to be between Mclaren and Ferrari. Renault and Honda might challenge for wins on occasions.

Although the car is more important in F1 than in other motorsports, the driver is still very important. Alonso is obviously the best driver in F1 at the moment, and Kimi is gonna struggle to keep up, although the red car might be a useful tool. Kimis only good reason for not being the champion is that Alonso is a better driver, but lets see what mclaren have up their sleeve......

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Tom @ Jan 31 2007, 03:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Although the car is more important in F1 than in other motorsports, the driver is still very important. Alonso is obviously the best driver in F1 at the moment, and Kimi is gonna struggle to keep up, although the red car might be a useful tool. Kimis only good reason for not being the champion is that Alonso is a better driver, but lets see what mclaren have up their sleeve......
The driver is always important, obviously, but the one in the best car mostly wins. I'm not like some fans, who keep saying their favourite is the best bla bla. It's not hard to see that Alonso is a very talented driver. I think FA is the best talent since a certain driver named Michael Schumacher. At least that's my opinion. Fernando will probably win a few more titles in the future, he might win his 3rd this season.

I'm not sure who the better one is, Kimi or Fernando, eventhough I'm a huge Kimi fan, my feeling says FA. But that's just a feeling, we can't be sure, right?? Of course if we look at the statistics FA is on top, cause he won 2 titles and Kimi zero, BUT I dont agree with ''Kimis only good reason for not being the champion is that Alonso is a better driver''. That's not true man. Kimi could have won the title in 2003 and 2005. Well, I think 2003 was the only true year he got a real chance. At least then he fought till the very last race. I think that season showed us what Kimi can do in an inferior car, cause overall Ferrari was better and Kimi still managed to fight till the end. Imo he should have won in 2003, but cause of that engine failure in Nurburgring that didnt happen.
In 2005 his car was way too unreliable and he was always like 20 points behind FA, so eventhough he won 7 races in 2005, he never was close to FA, unfortunately. You can't tell me that was because FA was so much better than Kimi, fact is FA's Renault was reliable, and KR's McLaren wasn't. Without reliability a driver can't win a title, simple as that.

Obviously there isn't much in it between them, but i do feel FA is better. My point really was that Alonso should be the only thing able to stand in his way this year. If he starts retiring from races too often in the Ferrari, with their excellent reliability record, it could prove what people tend to say about how he is too hard on cars.

And that of course brings me to the ultimate question, Will the Mclaren hold together enough to let Alonso drive for the title (which i want him to get).

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Tom @ Jan 31 2007, 08:34 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Obviously there isn't much in it between them, but i do feel FA is better. My point really was that Alonso should be the only thing able to stand in his way this year. If he starts retiring from races too often in the Ferrari, with their excellent reliability record, it could prove what people tend to say about how he is too hard on cars.

And that of course brings me to the ultimate question, Will the Mclaren hold together enough to let Alonso drive for the title (which i want him to get).
I think Mclaren will have a good car this season, and somehow I think they will also be reliable. With FA they sould definitely have a shot at the title. Like I said before, I think the title fight will be between McLaren and Ferrari. I hope Kimi won't retire too often, if he will, that indeed could show he's not a ''smooth driver''. He's not an Alain Prost, that guy was really smooth. Kimi's always driving on the limit, that's maybe why he could have had more reliability issues in the past, but I personally think Mclaren had a much bigger part in it. Ron Dennis said so himself, they rather wanted to be fast than reliable. He said that in 2005, but the guy must have forgotten that you can't win a title if you're not reliable. Let's hope both Kimi and Fernando (and other drivers of course..would be nice too) will have a winning car, then it will be exciting for sure.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Franco Fangio @ Feb 1 2007, 09:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I think Mclaren will have a good car this season, and somehow I think they will also be reliable. With FA they sould definitely have a shot at the title. Like I said before, I think the title fight will be between McLaren and Ferrari. I hope Kimi won't retire too often, if he will, that indeed could show he's not a ''smooth driver''. He's not an Alain Prost, that guy was really smooth. Kimi's always driving on the limit, that's maybe why he could have had more reliability issues in the past, but I personally think Mclaren had a much bigger part in it. Ron Dennis said so himself, they rather wanted to be fast than reliable. He said that in 2005, but the guy must have forgotten that you can't win a title if you're not reliable. Let's hope both Kimi and Fernando (and other drivers of course..would be nice too) will have a winning car, then it will be exciting for sure.

+1

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Franco Fangio @ Feb 1 2007, 01:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I think Mclaren will have a good car this season, and somehow I think they will also be reliable. With FA they sould definitely have a shot at the title. Like I said before, I think the title fight will be between McLaren and Ferrari. I hope Kimi won't retire too often, if he will, that indeed could show he's not a ''smooth driver''. He's not an Alain Prost, that guy was really smooth. Kimi's always driving on the limit, that's maybe why he could have had more reliability issues in the past, but I personally think Mclaren had a much bigger part in it. Ron Dennis said so himself, they rather wanted to be fast than reliable. He said that in 2005, but the guy must have forgotten that you can't win a title if you're not reliable. Let's hope both Kimi and Fernando (and other drivers of course..would be nice too) will have a winning car, then it will be exciting for sure.
Couldn't of put it better myself.

Well in that case we are all in agreement. Now lets get on with it!!

What to people feel about Toyota, will they finally win a race? And if not, is it the car or the drivers that are the problem?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Tom @ Feb 1 2007, 10:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Well in that case we are all in agreement. Now lets get on with it!!

What to people feel about Toyota, will they finally win a race? And if not, is it the car or the drivers that are the problem?
I dunno man..
I don't think they will win a race. It's probably the combination (car + drivers). Well, if they had a winning car, then RS or JT would have a chance I think (cause they won races in the past). Obviously we don't know how the car will perform, but I really doubt they will have a winning car, so, no..don't think they will win a race, only if they're lucky..

I agree. I think if they had a particularly strong car or driver they might be a force at some tracks. But with both being good but not great they will never be the strongest package. Unless the new car is actually really good. Maybe they could have one of those random wet weather wins.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Tom @ Feb 1 2007, 10:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I agree. I think if they had a particularly strong car or driver they might be a force at some tracks. But with both being good but not great they will never be the strongest package. Unless the new car is actually really good. Maybe they could have one of those random wet weather wins.
Yeah, who knows, that might happen.
I wish them well, but it's just that I don't see other teams than Mclaren, Ferrari (and maybe Renault n Honda) challenge for victories. And drivers like Jarno and Ralf can't make a difference imho (when they're not in a ''great'' car). Ralf's brother, on the other hand, is the type who could do that. I think it takes a great driver (like MS for example) to make the difference when he doesn't have the best car. He showed that in 96, but I have to say that was a different situation..