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[TheSaltire]

Here's my 2002 F1 Season Preview:

2002 Formula One Season Preview

It is just a few days before the 2002 FIA Formula One World Championship season officially begins at the Australian Grand Prix on March 3rd. Even with no significant rule changes for the 2002 season it has been an off-season full of changes for most of Formula One's eleven teams. It should have been a field of twelve teams until Prost Grand Prix's cessation of activity on January 28th, following a French court's ruling to liquidate of the team. In a sense, this was a sign of just some of the many changes across the sport before the F1 circus hits Melbourne. Here is a team-by-team breakdown:

SCUDERIA FERRARI MARLBORO
Reining world champion Michael Schumacher and his teammate Rubens Barrichello are hoping to repeat last year's dominating performance. Ferrari features a slightly changed livery that includes new sponsor Vodafone, and rumors persist that the F2002 features an engine and gearbox cast as a single unit. The real question for the Scuderia is can they hold things together? Ferrari has already decided to use the old F2001 for the Australian Grand Prix because of reliability questions and a lack of adequate testing. Other rumors hint that Barrichello may be growing tired of team orders to support Schumacher and his clear unequal status with the team.

WEST McLAREN MERCEDES
Change abounds at McLaren for the 2002 season. Last season's driver's championship runner-up David Coulthard is now joined by a new teammate, last year's rookie sensation Kimi Raikkonen. McLaren has switched from Bridgestone to Michelin tires, and the new Mercedes-Benz F0110M V10 engine features a new 90 degree angle design. The MP4-17 was launched much earlier this year in an attempt to work out the gremlins that plagued McLaren last season. Team Principal Ron Dennis has also indicated several other changes, including a new look for the team to be unveiled at the Australian Grand Prix.

BMW WILLIAMSF1 TEAM
Williams' 2002 contender the FW24 is aiming to knock off Ferrari from the top-spot in F1. To do so will require greater reliability from the new BMW P82 engine, and the continued improvement of both Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya. After four victories, four pole positions, and eight lap records last year Team Principal Frank Williams has high expectations for 2002. Assuming both drivers can put their personal dislike for one another behind them Williams should be a force to be reckoned with.

SAUBER PETRONAS
Team Principal Peter Sauber is in the unfortunate position of having almost nowhere to go but down. Sauber was clearly the surprise team of 2001, but can they continue their newfound success? Sophomore driver Nick Heidfeld and Brazilian rookie Felipe Massa will need to get the most out of their new C21 chassis and the Petronas 02A engine to retain their "best of the rest" status.

DHL JORDAN HONDA
Jordan unveiled their 2002 contender the EJ12 exactly one week before all the teams hit the track for Friday practice at the Australian Grand Prix. New title sponsor DHL and the new driver lineup of Giancarlo Fisichella and Takuma Sato are just a few of the changes that will give Jordan a new look in 2002. A very distinctive downward sloping front chassis design and changes to both the front and rear suspension system could improve Jordan's performance this year.

LUCKY STRIKE BAR HONDA
British American Racing's launch of the BAR004 was overshadowed by the surprise departure of team boss Craig Pollock. Pollock's replacement David Richards is hoping the new Honda RA002E engine can get the team back in contention. The BAR004 features no new significant design changes for 2002. Former world champion Jacques Villeneuve and teammate Olivier Panis are looking to improve over last year's disappointing performance.

MILD SEVEN RENAULT F1 TEAM
Renault officially returns to F1 for the first time since 1985 after purchasing the Benetton team in 2000. Jenson Button and new driver Jarno Trulli hope to continue last year's late season success with the new R202 chassis and revolutionary RS22 V10 engine. Renault also features a brand new team look and car livery for the 2002 season.

JAGUAR RACING
Jaguar's new R3 contender benefits from a new aerodynamics package developed after considerable wind tunnel testing. But will it and the new CR-3 engine be enough to get Jaguar back in track? Keep in mind that this is the third year of Ford's five-year plan to support the team. Drivers Eddie Irvine and Pedro de la Rosa may need to bide their time while waiting for Jaguar's new wind tunnel near Milton Keynes to go online in March, and a new engine design arrives in May.

ORANGE ARROWS
Arrows will be using the same Cosworth engine as Jaguar in their new A23 contender. Enrique Bernoldi and late addition Heinz-Harald Frentzen will have their work cut out for them. Team boss Tom Walkinshaw is hoping that Frentzen's extensive F1 experience can give the team a much-needed boost. Arrows will not unveil their new livery until February 27th.

KL MINARDI ASIATECH
Minardi's new PS02 contender has numerous changes that go well beyond just their new team sponsors and livery. New engine partner Asiatech has supplied their AT02 V10 engine and Minardi will also be using a new titanium-cased gearbox. The PS02 features a new pullrod-operated front suspension system along with design changes to the nose, sidepods, and engine cover. Alex Yoong and rookie teammate Mark Webber hope to return Minardi to the points in 2002.

PANASONIC TOYOTA RACING
After nearly three years in waiting, and paying a $12 million penalty to the FIA to keep its place on the grid, Toyota is finally ready to make their F1 debut. The team has an estimated yearly budget of $250 million, and their new factory in Köln-Marsdorf, Germany reportedly cost $125 million to build. The big question is how well Toyota's TF102 chassis and RVX-02 engine will stack up against the competition. Drivers Mika Salo and Allan McNish have already racked up over 3,000 laps getting ready for the 2002 season.

http://saltire.weblo...articles/f12002

[Flying Panda]

My season preview for each team can be found at F1Sport, under the teams profile

Not exaclty Atlas quality, but not bad for a first timer's on an amatuer site.

[HSJ]

Originally posted by Flying Panda
My season preview for each team can be found at F1Sport, under the teams profile

Not exaclty Atlas quality, but not bad for a first timer's on an amatuer site.

What the **** is that site on? I mean, they have totally wrong stats for KR there: they've got OP's stats in Kimi's profile... :

[Scudetto]

Originally posted by HSJ
What the **** is that site on? I mean, they have totally wrong stats for KR there: they've got OP's stats in Kimi's profile... :

So what's the problem with that? This way Kimi's already got his first win out of the way.

But how old was Kimi in May of '96, like 5 years old or something? Pretty impressive.

[f1sport]

HSL, if you have a problem with my site, then you should tell it to my face.

Man I'm doing it when I can, if you've written accounts for every team on a site, you'll know it takes ages. I don't do it for money, just 'cause I love F1. I made a mistake, big deal....

Flying Panda, fair play to you. Took the time to write excellent reports on all the teams.

[gerry nassar]

Nice review TheSaltire!!

Didnt know that Maclaren were unveiling a new look this week!!!!

[gerry nassar]

f1sport - just checked your site out - great work

[Mrv]

Originally posted by f1sport
HSL, if you have a problem with my site, then you should tell it to my face.

Man I'm doing it when I can, if you've written accounts for every team on a site, you'll know it takes ages. I don't do it for money, just 'cause I love F1. I made a mistake, big deal....

Flying Panda, fair play to you. Took the time to write excellent reports on all the teams.

You just don't understand, HSJ has a fixation for Kimi!!!! Easily excitable when things are said against him or reported wrong.