Now all the teams except FIndia have confirmed their drivers, what's your take on each team's line-up for 2008?
Which team has the strongest line-up in 2008
Started by
Arion
, Dec 15 2007 00:41
90 replies to this topic
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#2
ZZMS
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Posted 15 December 2007 - 01:03
hard to tell, there is a lot of drivers that are very close in performance and , to me, there is no driver that clearly stands out. I'd say Ferrari, McLaren and perhaps Renault all got equally strong line-ups
#3
jokuvaan
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Posted 15 December 2007 - 01:11
Quite even, but I consider that Kimi's mentality is so much different that it sets Ferrari apart from others.
#4
Yellowmc
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Posted 15 December 2007 - 02:02
The top 3 teams have great lineups, all drivers capable of winning races.
However, the advantage Ferrari have is that they have the same line-up from last year, 2 drivers who will now be very comfortable in their positions so I would choose Ferrari.
However, the advantage Ferrari have is that they have the same line-up from last year, 2 drivers who will now be very comfortable in their positions so I would choose Ferrari.
#5
Apocalypse
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Posted 15 December 2007 - 02:39
Ferrari.
They have two excellent, fast and relatively experienced drivers.
They have two excellent, fast and relatively experienced drivers.
#6
LePatron
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Posted 15 December 2007 - 02:48
I voted Renault. I'm obviously expecting big things from Piquet Junior. 
#7
Arn
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Posted 15 December 2007 - 08:38
Funny how Redbull get more votes than Renault.
#9
carbonfibre
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Posted 15 December 2007 - 09:40
Close but still Ferrari for me. They got the advantage of having the same pair for a second year + felipe already going into his 3rd year also helps.
#10
Atreiu
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Posted 15 December 2007 - 09:48
I'll vote Ferrari because Kovalainen is still an unknown variable in a top team and the Mclaren pair is significantly less experienced.
#11
Atreiu
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Posted 15 December 2007 - 09:49
Originally posted by LePatron
I voted Renault. I'm obviously expecting big things from Piquet Junior.
I expect a lot too, but being in Alonso's team with Flavio as the boss, one must obviously be cautious.
#12
repcobrabham
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Posted 15 December 2007 - 09:51
answering the question in the first post rather than the title, i think it's a particularly solid year for team partnerships in, say, 6 or 7 of the teams at least. there's no superstar standout duo like last year - sorry felipe and heikki - and a good spread of talent and experience: fer, mac, ren, bmw, RB, wil for starters.
#13
undersquare
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Posted 15 December 2007 - 10:21
Very close between the top 3. For me Hammy's commitment will be greater than anybody's and over the season he'll have fewer bad weekends. I think Kovy will be consistent too. I love Kimi's driving, and Felipe's thogh he doesn't have the aplha male head of Kimi, Fernando and Lewis. Fernando was still strong even under the collossal pressure of the second half of 2007, and I'm waiting with interest to see how good Piquet is.
Hopefully the cars won't be too different in performance because this is the strongest spread of drivers I can remember.
Hopefully the cars won't be too different in performance because this is the strongest spread of drivers I can remember.
#14
Lifew12
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Posted 15 December 2007 - 11:18
Honda!!
Seriously, though, Ferrari have the edge - I'm still unsure about Kovalainen, and Renault have Piquet, who will have a lot to prove.
STR have an interesting pair, too.
Seriously, though, Ferrari have the edge - I'm still unsure about Kovalainen, and Renault have Piquet, who will have a lot to prove.
STR have an interesting pair, too.
#15
santori
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Posted 15 December 2007 - 13:07
There should be very little between Ferrari, McLaren, BMW and - if Piquet does as well as I hope and think he will - Renault.
#16
MortenF1
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Posted 15 December 2007 - 13:14
I voted Ferrari, along with a huge majority. McLaren's second best.
Renault have got Piquet Jr, and while he looks promising he's a rookie, and unproven.
STR's pairing looks great on paper, but no-one really knows how Bourdais will fare. I think he'll prove to be very close to Vettel in his first season, and if he does, that will mean that they too have a formidable pairing, 'cause Vettel is made of the right stuff.
Toyota could actually turn out to have the weakest driver pairing next year! ...unless Trulli picks himself up, 'cause in my eyes he looked off-colour more often than not in 2007. Still some great laps in qualifying, but not even there did he impress like he's done so consistently earlier. And Glock is a rookie, so...
I believe FIF1 will have a really strong line-up next year, as they'll either have Fisichella or Klien alongside Sutil.
Renault have got Piquet Jr, and while he looks promising he's a rookie, and unproven.
STR's pairing looks great on paper, but no-one really knows how Bourdais will fare. I think he'll prove to be very close to Vettel in his first season, and if he does, that will mean that they too have a formidable pairing, 'cause Vettel is made of the right stuff.
Toyota could actually turn out to have the weakest driver pairing next year! ...unless Trulli picks himself up, 'cause in my eyes he looked off-colour more often than not in 2007. Still some great laps in qualifying, but not even there did he impress like he's done so consistently earlier. And Glock is a rookie, so...
I believe FIF1 will have a really strong line-up next year, as they'll either have Fisichella or Klien alongside Sutil.
#17
ferrariwonagain
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Posted 15 December 2007 - 13:17
Ferrari, for sure.
#18
giacomo
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Posted 15 December 2007 - 13:37
It must be Ferrari.
#19
noikeee
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Posted 15 December 2007 - 13:46
Ferrari looks the best pairing on paper, because both drivers are experient and well settled with the team now, but certainly McLaren's pairing is very quick (maybe even a hair quicker than Ferrari's) and they have tons of potential. Renault might turn out to be one hell of a duo as well if Piquet gets it right, and from what we've seen so far it's quite possible he'll have the speed.
Other particularly good pairings: BMW (altho I think things aren't wonderful between Heidfeld and Kubica, the atmosphere there might blow up) and Toro Rosso, STR certainly make for one of the most exciting prospects for 2008 - however Vettel is still a bit too young, and drivers coming from ChampCar are completely unpredictable (is Bourdais another Jacques Villeneuve or another Michael Andretti?).
Red Bull and Honda have right about classic 1-2 scenarios where the top guy is very quick and the other guy is solid, but while that's a proven formula that brings results, it's also hardly exciting. Williams have a great driver in Rosberg, but Nakajima didn't quite seem 100% ready for F1 in GP2. Toyota hired the GP2 champion, and of course Glock deserves a shot in F1 again but it's hard to see him as top class - and Trulli has been a bit too invisible lately in the races. Spyker, assuming they hire Fisi, have actually a pretty good duo: the quick youngster plus the experienced guy that excels at crap cars - it's just that by now it's hard to label anything including Fisi as a "great" pairing.
Finally, Aguri risk having the worst duo: Sato brings spectacular wheel-to-wheel fights, and had a good season but he's proven in the past that he's not really a great driver, the other seat seems to be between Davidson and Filippi - Davidson isn't bad but there must be a reason Honda took so long to give him a seat, Filippi is promising but still a bit unproven.
Other particularly good pairings: BMW (altho I think things aren't wonderful between Heidfeld and Kubica, the atmosphere there might blow up) and Toro Rosso, STR certainly make for one of the most exciting prospects for 2008 - however Vettel is still a bit too young, and drivers coming from ChampCar are completely unpredictable (is Bourdais another Jacques Villeneuve or another Michael Andretti?).
Red Bull and Honda have right about classic 1-2 scenarios where the top guy is very quick and the other guy is solid, but while that's a proven formula that brings results, it's also hardly exciting. Williams have a great driver in Rosberg, but Nakajima didn't quite seem 100% ready for F1 in GP2. Toyota hired the GP2 champion, and of course Glock deserves a shot in F1 again but it's hard to see him as top class - and Trulli has been a bit too invisible lately in the races. Spyker, assuming they hire Fisi, have actually a pretty good duo: the quick youngster plus the experienced guy that excels at crap cars - it's just that by now it's hard to label anything including Fisi as a "great" pairing.
Finally, Aguri risk having the worst duo: Sato brings spectacular wheel-to-wheel fights, and had a good season but he's proven in the past that he's not really a great driver, the other seat seems to be between Davidson and Filippi - Davidson isn't bad but there must be a reason Honda took so long to give him a seat, Filippi is promising but still a bit unproven.
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#20
Ross Stonefeld
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Posted 15 December 2007 - 13:47
McLaren, Kovalainen is at least as fast as Massa. Maybe Renault are too, but we don't know enough about Piquet in F1 terms, though I'd expect him to be able to handle Massa.
#21
eoin
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Posted 15 December 2007 - 13:53
Ferrari. Both drivers are bedded in and are proven winners.
#22
Group B
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Posted 15 December 2007 - 13:57
Very tough call, but as a proven pairing that have still more potential I might just go out on a bit of a limb and say Bimmer.
#23
emburmak
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Posted 15 December 2007 - 14:14
ferrari for now.
KR is ably assisted by FM, who is perhaps marginally off. The same cannot be said of the others. In Mclaren LH is the topdog, easily as fast as the Ferrari duo. HK is a big question mark. How good is he really??
At Renault, FA is the current King; can NP hassle him or more importantly will he be allowed to.
The BMW pairing has been a bit of a disappointment. I expected more from RK. Let's face NH is a mid-field driver, more of a DC than a KR.
KR is ably assisted by FM, who is perhaps marginally off. The same cannot be said of the others. In Mclaren LH is the topdog, easily as fast as the Ferrari duo. HK is a big question mark. How good is he really??
At Renault, FA is the current King; can NP hassle him or more importantly will he be allowed to.
The BMW pairing has been a bit of a disappointment. I expected more from RK. Let's face NH is a mid-field driver, more of a DC than a KR.
#24
Platinum
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Posted 15 December 2007 - 14:52
We have a very interesting season ahead. I believe Ferrari duo will be the strongest one, Mclaren second, BMW third, Renault fourth. KR-FM works, both very fast and work well together. LH-HK probably works, both very fast and matured from their rookie season. NH-RK has worked well, both fast and consistant drivers who get along with each other. FA-NPj will be INTERESTING! Both fast, NPj a promising talent, both have big egos. Might be a lot of fireworks coming! And thats why they're in my books #4 duo. I hope manager Briatore doesnt ruin the excitement by favouring FA as usual.
#25
tre
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Posted 15 December 2007 - 15:27
im slightly confused when people write about drivers in the top three teams. is BMW still one of them? or did some people already swap it with Renault instead (now that Alonso is back).
Anyway, id say that
the most interesting pairing will be at the STR, 2 Sebs, one already looking very promising, another finally making it into f1
the strongest, will be Ferrari- because both drivers are team players
one that will gather most attention from the media will be either at Renault or Mclaren, depending on how well both teams will handle labelling their drivers with nr 1 and 2 status.
Anyway, id say that
the most interesting pairing will be at the STR, 2 Sebs, one already looking very promising, another finally making it into f1
the strongest, will be Ferrari- because both drivers are team players
one that will gather most attention from the media will be either at Renault or Mclaren, depending on how well both teams will handle labelling their drivers with nr 1 and 2 status.
#26
le chat noir
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Posted 15 December 2007 - 15:49
Originally posted by tre
im slightly confused when people write about drivers in the top three teams. is BMW still one of them? or did some people already swap it with Renault instead (now that Alonso is back).
no need. top 3 teams are Ferrari BMW Renault... (tho you are right the posts refer to mclaren ferrari renault)
on a very rough scale i see the pairings like this:
Ferrari: _9/10 - KR 5, FM 4
BMW: __7/10 - NH 4, RK 3
Renault: 8/10 - FA 5, NP 3
Williams: 6/10 - NR 4, KN 2
RBR: ___6/10 - DC 3, MW 3
Toyota: 5/10 - JT 3, TG 2
Honda: 6/10 - JB 4, RB 2
STR: __5/10 - SV 3, SB 2
SA: ___4/10 - TS 2, AD 2
FIFI: __4/10 - AS 2, GF 2
McLaren: 8/10 - LH 5, HK 3
after 3 races tho, these could look very different
perhaps something like:
Ferrari: _ 10/10 - KR 5, FM 5
BMW: ___8/10 - NH 4, RK 4
Renault: _9/10 - FA 5, NP 4
Williams: _7/10 - NR 4, KN 3 - maybe even 8/10 - NR 5, KN 3
RBR: ____7/10 - DC 3, MW 4
Toyota: _6/10 - JT 3, TG 3
Honda: __7/10 - JB 4, RB 3
STR: ___6/10 - SV 3, SB 3
SA: ____6/10 - TS 3, AD 3
FIFI: ___6/10 - AS 3, GF 3
McLaren: 10/10 - LH 5, HK 5
#28
miniman
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Posted 15 December 2007 - 16:07
Put the Super Aguri guys in the 2008 Ferrari and the results will be the same. So for a proper (and fair)balance in the final tabulations of this poll I vote for the 2 gentlemen. Now back to the eggnog...
#29
intelligentsia
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Posted 15 December 2007 - 16:33
Ferrari
The team have been together for a year now everyone knows their place in the family, and they will be more motivated then ever after just winning both championships.
The potential of the Lewis and Heikki combination is also very good.
The team have been together for a year now everyone knows their place in the family, and they will be more motivated then ever after just winning both championships.
The potential of the Lewis and Heikki combination is also very good.
#31
kismet
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Posted 15 December 2007 - 17:05
Clearly I have no idea. Lots of capable and more or less comparable driver lineups on that list.
#32
Ricardo F1
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Posted 15 December 2007 - 17:05
Ferrari over McLaren by the edge of experience. Pace wise it might be the other way around but experience counts at this level.
#34
Arion
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Posted 15 December 2007 - 17:36
I'm surprised Renault has only got 13 votes! 
Renault is the only team that has a 2XWDC, and Alonso is still the best driver on the grid, only missed out on the last WDC by 1 point, and would have won if he had a Massa-like teammate. Piquet Jr is rookie, unproven, but rookies like Lewis, Heikki and Vettel have all done well last season, if Piquet Jr's GP2 results can be a guide, he's like Massa, very quick in qualifying, if the car is quick, he might be able to win from pole on those overtaking-unfriendly tracks. But then I have to admit I have got into the habit of getting over-excited about rookies because of Hamilton. 
Renault is the only team that has a 2XWDC, and Alonso is still the best driver on the grid, only missed out on the last WDC by 1 point, and would have won if he had a Massa-like teammate. Piquet Jr is rookie, unproven, but rookies like Lewis, Heikki and Vettel have all done well last season, if Piquet Jr's GP2 results can be a guide, he's like Massa, very quick in qualifying, if the car is quick, he might be able to win from pole on those overtaking-unfriendly tracks. But then I have to admit I have got into the habit of getting over-excited about rookies because of Hamilton.
#35
man from martinlaakso
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Posted 15 December 2007 - 17:44
I voted Ferrari, because Kimi won the WDC title in 2007 and he will be more relaxed and effective in 2008 and Felipe will have a strong season, too. The Mac drivers are talented, but unexperianced compared to the Ferrari duo. The Renault duo might be very close to Mac drivers. These three are the three strongest line-ups.
#36
i_3_ms
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Posted 15 December 2007 - 18:18
Interesting that, at present, McLaren has three times as many votes as Renault, personally I think it's hard to pick the stronger of those two line-ups.
I voted for Ferrari.
I voted for Ferrari.
#37
robnyc
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Posted 15 December 2007 - 18:33
Originally posted by Arion
I'm surprised Renault has only got 13 votes!
I also think that Renault has a strong line-up, the thing is that if you even attempt to suggest that Piquet Jr. will be as good as Lewis people in here would go nuts since he still has not driven an F1 car in competition and plus he is not very popular primarily because of his last name, which is ignorance.
#38
davegp3
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Posted 15 December 2007 - 18:52
I think Ferrari are little bit ahead of everybody, Kimi is WDC and Massa is strong too.
McLaren then with two fast but not totally proven quantities.
Renault with double WDC Alonso and unproven quantity Piquet jr.
McLaren then with two fast but not totally proven quantities.
Renault with double WDC Alonso and unproven quantity Piquet jr.
#39
Clatter
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Posted 15 December 2007 - 18:55
Originally posted by i_<3_ms
Interesting that, at present, McLaren has three times as many votes as Renault, personally I think it's hard to pick the stronger of those two line-ups.
I voted for Ferrari.
Its not really that surprising as Piquet is an unknown quantity as far as F1 racing goes. He could prove to be another sensation, but we will have to wait and see.
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#40
angst
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Posted 15 December 2007 - 19:06
Ferrari have the strongest line up. Raikkonen is one of the best, a true racer with none of the usually accompanying BS. Massa I'm not so convinced about, but if he shows well this year (with the loss of TC) then I'll eat humble pie and accept that he has improved vastly and is a driver worthy of a top drive.....
Jean Todt will, as usual, manage the team around him. Max will act when called upon, as will the WMSC. A very strong line up indeed....;)
Jean Todt will, as usual, manage the team around him. Max will act when called upon, as will the WMSC. A very strong line up indeed....;)
#41
cartman
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Posted 15 December 2007 - 19:15
Ferrari by far. No weak spot there.
Both are very fast. Kimi is the best racer (tied with Alonso), Massa is very good too especialy in qualifying.
Both are settled in the team and have a lot of experience. On top of that both are team players, so no trouble is expected on that front.
Also, Kimi is the reigning WDC so his confidence must be very high.
McLaren driver pairing looks promising too.No doubt Hamilton is top driver, but Kovalainen is somewhat unproven and both lack experience.
Theres no doubt Alonso is top (if not the best) driver but Piquet is the question mark. I fear he is the new Trulli - fast in qualifying but might fade in races.
Both are very fast. Kimi is the best racer (tied with Alonso), Massa is very good too especialy in qualifying.
Both are settled in the team and have a lot of experience. On top of that both are team players, so no trouble is expected on that front.
Also, Kimi is the reigning WDC so his confidence must be very high.
McLaren driver pairing looks promising too.No doubt Hamilton is top driver, but Kovalainen is somewhat unproven and both lack experience.
Theres no doubt Alonso is top (if not the best) driver but Piquet is the question mark. I fear he is the new Trulli - fast in qualifying but might fade in races.
#42
Arion
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Posted 15 December 2007 - 19:24
Originally posted by angst
Max will act when called upon, as will the WMSC. A very strong line up indeed....;)
And Ron, being Max's nemesis, will be the weakest link in the McLaren lineup
#43
AyePirate
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Posted 15 December 2007 - 19:31
Originally posted by Clatter
Its not really that surprising as Piquet is an unknown quantity as far as F1 racing goes. He could prove to be another sensation, but we will have to wait and see.
That would be funny Groundhog Day starring Fred Alonso
never, ever going to happen though. I hope Nelson Sr. is in the pits we could get some fun going in a hurry.
#44
COUGAR508
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Posted 15 December 2007 - 19:40
I would say Ferrari, as both Kimi and Massa are now very much known quantities, whereas there are still questions about the line-ups at both McLaren and Renault.
#45
molive
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Posted 15 December 2007 - 20:20
2008 will have one of the most high-levelled field in recent years.
I'd say that Ferrari has the overall best duo, but the other pairings are very good too.
It will be an interesting year!
I'd say that Ferrari has the overall best duo, but the other pairings are very good too.
It will be an interesting year!
#46
hobbes
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Posted 15 December 2007 - 21:14
it was a transitional year for ferrari and im hoping they gained a lot of experience and work even better as a team. Mclaren wasnt always faster this year, depending on the track, but ferrari's major problem was unreliability
#47
pingu666
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Posted 15 December 2007 - 23:15
whole field is really strong isnt it? so im not gonna vote
#48
HSJ
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Posted 16 December 2007 - 10:16
IMHO, driver pairs:
1. Ferrari
2. BMW
3. Red Bull
4. Honda
5. McLaren, Toro Rosso
7. Renault
8. Toyota
9. India, Aguri
Some justifications/clarifications: JB=>NH=MW=FA=Bourdais (probably). RK>DC>RB, but RB should be equal or better than rookie NPj or rookie Vettel. McLaren have only two second year drivers, even if promising ones, though we do know that LH is equal or better than FA even now, and HK can be expected to be better than NPj, which puts McLaren ahead of Renault. Otherwise obvious enough.
1. Ferrari
2. BMW
3. Red Bull
4. Honda
5. McLaren, Toro Rosso
7. Renault
8. Toyota
9. India, Aguri
Some justifications/clarifications: JB=>NH=MW=FA=Bourdais (probably). RK>DC>RB, but RB should be equal or better than rookie NPj or rookie Vettel. McLaren have only two second year drivers, even if promising ones, though we do know that LH is equal or better than FA even now, and HK can be expected to be better than NPj, which puts McLaren ahead of Renault. Otherwise obvious enough.
#49
wrighty
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Posted 16 December 2007 - 10:31
Originally posted by AyePirate
That would be funny Groundhog Day starring Fred Alonso
never, ever going to happen though. I hope Nelson Sr. is in the pits we could get some fun going in a hurry.
I had the feeling we'd see the same at Honda too
but I digress.......given Ferrari have the same drivers on board who performed so well last season, and they have the weight of the FIA 'looking out for them', i have a feeling we'll have a very red '08 lol
#50
noikeee
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Posted 16 December 2007 - 11:33
Originally posted by HSJ
IMHO, driver pairs:
1. Ferrari
2. BMW
3. Red Bull
4. Honda
5. McLaren, Toro Rosso
7. Renault
8. Toyota
9. India, Aguri
Some justifications/clarifications: JB=>NH=MW=FA=Bourdais (probably). RK>DC>RB, but RB should be equal or better than rookie NPj or rookie Vettel. McLaren have only two second year drivers, even if promising ones, though we do know that LH is equal or better than FA even now, and HK can be expected to be better than NPj, which puts McLaren ahead of Renault. Otherwise obvious enough.
So, JB=LH=>NH=MW=FA=SB>=RK=HK>DC>RB>=NPJ=SV+MS/AS/AP/FIA*KGB^CCCP-FBI*SQR(KR), right?
My head hurts.
