F1 Half-term Report Card

Hi all,

Now that the season has reached the summer break, I felt it appropriate to rate the teams' performance, compared to your expectations of them for the season. I've published my thoughts here, but would very much like to see what other people think. Who are the overachievers and the underachievers? Who have you been most disappointed by?

I've just graded the teams, but by all means grade the drivers. Would be good to hear explanations to go alongside ratings

Edited by Gene and Tonic, 02 August 2010 - 15:13.

Mclaren, B. They don't have a competitve car and they really are not helping Lewis with strategy decisions and giving him a good/reliable car.

Red Bull, A-. What's more to say about Red Bull. Insane car they have. However due team politics like in Turkey and Silverstone they don't get an A+ from me. They seem to have sorted out Vettel's car problems so they are good.

Ferrari, B. Don't like their team politics. They also make silly mistakes like in Silverstone by not letting Kubica past which lead to a drive threw penalty.

Mercedes GP. D. The car was on par with Mclaren at the start of the season, no idea what happened from there. Very bad.

Renault, A. For such a small team that is said to have financial problems, they are doing an amazing job.

Sauber, B+. Great improvement from last year of the crappy BMW team. Occasionally beating Ferrari is a huge accomplishment. Last race they were also just as fast as Jenson in the Mclaren.

Williams, A. They are making good progress, managing to beat bigger teams like Mercedes GP more than once now. I think Williams has now become a team that Mercedes GP has to worry about in the 2nd half of the season.

I think Williams has now become a team that Mercedes GP has to worry about in the 2nd half of the season.

Yes, that´s why Michael tried to smashed Rubens into the wall

Now seriously

I would not give an A- for Red Bull, they should be leading both championships right now. If I am not wrong the scored 11 poles so far. With refuelling banned, all they have to do is start to finish first.

On the other teams, I think grades are ok. Mercedes really get lost it in the European races. Rosberg was even an shot for the title in the early stages, but now he struggles to get a Q3 position.

they should be leading both championships right now.

And right now they are lol

Red Bull A-
sick car But they seem to be stepping on each others foot. Especially with the Vettel bias they seem to have: big minus.
Mark Webber A- silly mistake against Hamilton in Australia and against Kova in Valencia. Apart from that: next to perfect.
Sebastian Vettel C- silly boy, childish attitudes, talent is there, but still needs to learn a bit. Like conversion rate. out of 6 poles, 1 win? too bad.

McLaren B
The car is rubbish, but the RB mishaps flatter them in the WCC. The myth of the development champions isnt pulling any longer. Besides that: 3 technical failures (2 Lewis, 1 Jenson is not helping either).
Jenson Button C+ way below his possibilities. really under-performing. too many excuses as to his slow qualifying pace.
Lewis Hamilton A. Perfect driving, no mistakes or constant slow pace seen so far.

Ferrari B+
Good development and catching up. The team order against Felipe wasnt nice, but its okay.
Fernando B+ too many silly mistakes and some funny antics. Apart from that: Top driver!
Felipe C+ under performing.

Mercedes GP. C
Never really rebounded. Schumacher was a bigger distraction than help to the team. From then on it just went worse.
Niko Rosberg A- keeping Schumi in check without saying too much. Classy!
M. Schumacher C- please go home!

Renault, C+
Not bad. But not good either. I heard they have the smallest budget of the top 5. Well then, ok!
Kubica A. Very good driving. No big mistakes. Always great pace.
Paytrov C+ still in his learning curve, but gradually and steadily improving.

Sauber, C+
Not bad. But not good either. They received a crappy car from BM, but since then they have been gradually improving.
DeLa Rosa C
Kobayashi B+ hasn't disappointed me. But on the other hand also hasn't impressed with smashing performances (alright, except Valencia).

Williams, C+
Rubinho A- good and solid driver, without many great mistakes (or at least none that I have noticed)
Nico Hülkenberg C+ still in his learning curve, but gradually and steadily improving.

Force India B-
Adrian Sutil B+
Vitantonio Luizzi B-

Torro Rosso C-
Alguesuari B+
Buemi B+

Lotus C+
Kovalainen B+
Trulli B-

Virgin C
Glock B+
DiGrassi C- (driving F1 is more than writing silly press statements )

Hispania D+
Senna B- (perhaps he is better, but the car doesn't help him)
Chandok B-
Yamaoto D

Now seriously

I would not give an A- for Red Bull, they should be leading both championships right now. If I am not wrong the scored 11 poles so far. With refuelling banned, all they have to do is start to finish first.

On the other teams, I think grades are ok. Mercedes really get lost it in the European races. Rosberg was even an shot for the title in the early stages, but now he struggles to get a Q3 position.

Pos Driver Points
1 Mark Webber 161
2 Lewis Hamilton 157
3 Sebastian Vettel 151

Pos Constructor Points
1 Red Bull/Renault 312
2 McLaren/Mercedes 304
3 Ferrari 238

Pos Driver Points
1 Mark Webber 161
2 Lewis Hamilton 157
3 Sebastian Vettel 151

Pos Constructor Points
1 Red Bull/Renault 312
2 McLaren/Mercedes 304
3 Ferrari 238

DiGrassi C- (driving F1 is more than writing silly press statements )

Harsh.

I can't remember di Grassi crashing the car once. Can you?

I think he's done a fine job, as well as any rookie could've hoped to do in a dog of a car.

Harsh.

I can't remember di Grassi crashing the car once. Can you?

I think he's done a fine job, as well as any rookie could've hoped to do in a dog of a car.

Di Grassi has certainly been the most invisible rookie this year, and, in a world that generally hypes the negatives, means he's been doing a good job. He even had that scrap with alonso in Monaco!

Harsh.

I can't remember di Grassi crashing the car once. Can you?

I think he's done a fine job, as well as any rookie could've hoped to do in a dog of a car.

F1 is writing more than silly press statements like the one he wrote/ altered about his team mate Timo Glock!

Sauber, B+. Great improvement from last year of the crappy BMW team. Occasionally beating Ferrari is a huge accomplishment. Last race they were also just as fast as Jenson in the Mclaren.

Not really, that would be thanks to the new points system. And if you recall pre-season testing, they looked the best of the rest but fooled everyone with lower fuel runs. They've actually been a disappointment, not to mention unreliability issues that masked Kobayashis talent. The car was a dog until James Key could make any impact. I'd give them a C.

Williams, A. They are making good progress, managing to beat bigger teams like Mercedes GP more than once now. I think Williams has now become a team that Mercedes GP has to worry about in the 2nd half of the season.

A is pushing it, after all, this was a "clean sheet" design that has not proven much quicker than last years car. Like Sauber, expectations haven't really been fully met. Their early season was saved by Rubens while the Hulk was getting up to speed. Granted, they're getting there now though so a B would be more worthy.

Otherwise I agree with everything else.

Edited by Disgrace, 02 August 2010 - 20:03.

F1 is writing more than silly press statements like the one he wrote/ altered about his team mate Timo Glock!

How exactly does that make any difference to his driving so far?

Hi all,

Now that the season has reached the summer break, I felt it appropriate to rate the teams' performance, compared to your expectations of them for the season. I've published my thoughts here, but would very much like to see what other people think. Who are the overachievers and the underachievers? Who have you been most disappointed by?

I've just graded the teams, but by all means grade the drivers. Would be good to hear explanations to go alongside ratings

I liked especially your remarks on USF1 and the photograph of the car - who is that on the side pod of the USF1 GP car?

Thanks Thought I'd end it light-heartedly! Got the pic from here http://farm3.static....004b1702f_b.jpg apparently it's Rick Astley no less. Was anticipating Chad Hurley or someone, but it was the most appropriate picture for a USF1 car I could find really