101 replies to this topic

[sainsburypeter]

Theres a lot of changes for 2006; driver, teams, engines and rules. Who will get the glory next year?

[gluon]

Both Michael and Ferrari will be willing to get back at the top, and they're also both good at it. The return of tyre changes should also help Bridgestone.

[Pep]

I expect Renault and McLaren to be as strong as this year, as the aero rules don't change.

However, if the tyre war doesn't change things dramatically, I expect Renault to dominate. Nobody beats them building good and reliable engines. Remember they retired in the nineties because they had "nothing to prove" as they were winning every year. They also pioneered the turbos and the V10.

PD: Is it already sure it will be legal to change tyres?

[giddyup409]

is this another fanboy census?;)

[SeanValen]

It's formula one, anything can happen. As proven by season 2005.


But it's always hard not to say MS and Ferrari. And you gotta say Renault/Alonso now, they've got good people, willing to sustain success.

Then what if mclaren give kimi a reliable and fast car........


Toyota want race wins, Bar wanna go for the championship.


I say, despite Ferrari's bad season, it might be a three way fight between Renault, Mclaren and Ferrari, the dream ticket for fans.

[Clatter]

With the huge changes coming along next year its impossible to predict.

While you would expect the usual teams to be strong, I think there is a good potential for someone to spring a surprise.

[giddyup409]

matador scott speed and squadra rosso toro w/v10 rev limited cosworth and ex-arrow chasis w/ beautiful color scheme got my vote

[karlth]

Originally posted by Pep
However, if the tyre war doesn't change things dramatically, I expect Renault to dominate. Nobody beats them building good and reliable engines. Remember they retired in the nineties because they had "nothing to prove" as they were winning every year. They also pioneered the turbos and the V10.

And in 2001 one of the most gutless V10 engines ever made.

Most will I think depend on the tyres not the engine. If Bridgestone are stronger then Schumacher should take it easly while if Michelin continue their dominance then it should be between the guys mentioned above.

[SlateGray]

Bet the farm on Kimi!

[RiDE]

Kimi has twice more than Alonso.

Does everyone think Alonso is a fluke or something.

[Pep]

Originally posted by karlth


And in 2001 one of the most gutless V10 engines ever made.

Yes, but in 2001 Renault had just returned with another different idea regarding engines. Their 110º engine could have proved a good idea (in 2003 it had progressed and it was a good engine that allowed the car to have a very low center of gravity), but they discarded (and fired His) when the FIA declared its intention to make the engines last one weekend, and then 2 weekends. The engine with that wide angle was unstable when revving very high. It could be solved if the engine had to last only one race, but not when it was required one or two weekends. (this is what I've read).

Most will I think depend on the tyres not the engine. If Bridgestone are stronger then Schumacher should take it easly while if Michelin continue their dominance then it should be between the guys mentioned above.

There would be good battles among Renault, McLaren and BAR if Michelin is the better tyre. I'm not sure if Bridgestone has the upper hand again (doubt that Toyota or Williams can mount a challenge to Ferrari).

Let's hope for a tie between Mich-Bridg like in 2003, or Michelin superiority. And only one tyre soon.

[gerry nassar]

There's really no way of knowing which teams will be competitive (fast AND reliable) next year and which wont.

At this stage - with tyre stops making a comeback - MS is probably the favourite as I expect Ferrari to be back on top. Renault will be fast and Mclaren should be fast based on the chassis - but dont know about the engine.

[rfus]

Originally posted by Pep
I expect Renault and McLaren to be as strong as this year, as the aero rules don't change.

They will change implicitly with the new v8 engines allowing for slimmer packaging.

With a design team as strong as Mclaren I think they are on the up at the moment and wouldn't be surprised if they have bigger speed advantage to the rest of the field next year if Ferrari/BS don't get their act together (not convinced they will, but not convinced they won't either). If they can stop their cars from breaking Kimi should be good for the championship. Other obvious picks would be JPM, Fred and MS, but for all we know anyone could make a great car and win the championship.

[Jodum5]

I picked Raikkonen because he's my boy and I got his back.

WEST SIDE!

[gerry nassar]

Originally posted by Jodum5
I picked Raikkonen because he's my boy and I got his back.

WEST SIDE!

[capture_the_flag]

Sorry, but the list is very poor. Fisichella, Barrichello, R. Schumacher or Trulli should be mentioned there.

So, I voted for "other". Funny that people in this BB how often change their minds about the racers' quality and talent. How do you know that not another 2004 will come to the overrated KR and FA duo?

[checkonetwo]

i voted "other". Trulli will have a chance, if the car is good.

[xype]

Since any prediction will probably turn out false anyway, I can go out on the fanboi limb and claim a fulminant return of the Jacques with a 12 win season to take the WDC!

(Gotsa keep them hardcore fan image real!)

[philhitchings]

ROSBERG

[BorderReiver]

Originally posted by capture_the_flag
Sorry, but the list is very poor. Fisichella, Barrichello, R. Schumacher or Trulli should be mentioned there.

So, I voted for "other".

Good, because thats what it is there for .

Jeez, I mean, a poor list? It seems a pretty good one of likely candidates to me.

[skinnylizard]

Originally posted by capture_the_flag
Sorry, but the list is very poor. Fisichella, Barrichello, R. Schumacher or Trulli should be mentioned there.

i think your looking for the also ran list.

[BlackCat]

only thing i know: 05 was the first lean year for ferrari, nineteen more to come...

[magicalonso]

Kimi wins every poll on this board, It is more a question of who do you want to win the title in 2006 instead of who will win it..Really, the only poll Kimi didn't win on this board IIRC was the one concerning the best qualifier where he barely lost out to Trulli depsite all the mistakes Kimi had made in qualifying whereas Trulli had been absolutely flawless (it was done before Suzuka) It's just another popularity contest as it is completely impossible to tell who will be WDC at this point.

[MortenF1]

Impossible to say anything firm now, when obviously no-one have tested their '06 challengers yet, and also of huge importance; we don't know what the tyre-rules will be, hence we also don't know anything about the tyres. Having said that, long-life tires or not, Bridgestone should (will) be much stronger next year, with Williams and Toyota running their rubber, alongside Ferrari.

I can say what I think will happen next year though, with some rough ideas; Ferrari will be back at the front consistently, McLaren-Mercedes will fight for wins much like this year, and I have a feeling that Renault will drop back slightly. I also think that (depending on B-stone) Williams will be very, very strong in the first part of the season, much thanks to Cosworth. But then they'll get caught up by the bigger manufacturers, as they can't match their spending and developments.

We can only be more concrete on '06 after a few weeks of testing with the new cars.

[speedmaster]

Barrichelo.....

Ok, flame me, but I can at least cheer for.... or not?
;)

[TF106]

not completed options

[DSP]

Just a slight note to say that (while at the same team) Barrichelo will be 20 times WDC before Button manages to win his first...

Thus, i find it quite strange to put an Option "Button" on this poll without putting the "Barrichelo" one.

P.S.-I'm NOT a Barrichelo fan......

[tidytracks]

Originally posted by philhitchings
ROSBERG

Yeah, Rosberg to take the title with one win just like his old man in the Williams Cossie 24 years earlier.

Kovalainen 2nd after Renault get sick of Fisi forgetting where the throttle is and replace him with Heikki from Imola, after which point he wins the majority of European events.

Speed third in the rev-limited Toro Rosso having picked up no wins all season, but making good of a reliable car that worked pretty damn well for the '05 season.

;)

[Nacheras]

Nobody say nothing about Alonso.???


My vote is for Alonso. He defense the title. The maxim favorite for me is him.

[firebone]

laugh if you want...
but 2006 will be trulli's year

[jokuvaan]

Its all about car and particularly engine and tyres.

Kimi, Alonso and MS, I think winner comes from these unless Toyota builds some superduber car.

[-TC-]

Originally posted by giddyup409
is this another fanboy census?;)

Is there any other?

[pippin]

Its impossible to vote for any particular driver yet. There's been no winter testing and heck are all the rules and regs yet fixed for 2006? Quali for example, that will make a difference for a starters. Then as has already been alluded to, what about tyre changes? That too will make a difference.

My gut feeling is that Renault will still be strong. I have doubts about Mercedes engines (now there's a surprise : - does anyone know what Mercedes experience of V8's is like?), but other than that Maclaren are still bound to be up there.

Ferrari, I'm not sure about, but I reckon they'll do better in 2006, especially with Toyota and Williams helping on the tyre development front.

I can't help but think Williams will struggle, certainly in the first few races, at any rate.

I have no idea about Toyota and BAR (well it'll be Honda won't it?). I know Toyota is pushing very hard, so who knows maybe something good could happen there. BAR is a mystery, I can't even hazardous a guess. Maybe when Rubens comes on board, it will help them.

Apart from the obvious three (MS, FA, KR) on the driver front, I reckon Montoya is worth a bit of an outside bet. I don't like him personally, but he seems to have got to grips with Maclaren now and if he can stop hitting/being hit by other cars, he could be worth a punt.

[xenna]

Originally posted by capture_the_flag
Sorry, but the list is very poor. Fisichella, Barrichello, R. Schumacher or Trulli should be mentioned there.

So, I voted for "other". Funny that people in this BB how often change their minds about the racers' quality and talent. How do you know that not another 2004 will come to the overrated KR and FA duo?

TRUE

[Sakae]

Originally posted by pippin
Its impossible to vote for any particular driver yet. There's been no winter testing and heck are all the rules and regs yet fixed for 2006? Quali for example, that will make a difference for a starters. Then as has already been alluded to, what about tyre changes? That too will make a difference.

My gut feeling is that Renault will still be strong. I have doubts about Mercedes engines (now there's a surprise : - does anyone know what Mercedes experience of V8's is like?), but other than that Maclaren are still bound to be up there.

Ferrari, I'm not sure about, but I reckon they'll do better in 2006, especially with Toyota and Williams helping on the tyre development front.

I can't help but think Williams will struggle, certainly in the first few races, at any rate.

I have no idea about Toyota and BAR (well it'll be Honda won't it?). I know Toyota is pushing very hard, so who knows maybe something good could happen there. BAR is a mystery, I can't even hazardous a guess. Maybe when Rubens comes on board, it will help them.

Apart from the obvious three (MS, FA, KR) on the driver front, I reckon Montoya is worth a bit of an outside bet. I don't like him personally, but he seems to have got to grips with Maclaren now and if he can stop hitting/being hit by other cars, he could be worth a punt.

S-class V8 is a beautiful thing.

[F1 Tor.]

Originally posted by SlateGray
Bet the farm on Kimi!

Let's bet your farm then.;)

[philhitchings]

I'll see your farm and raise you a one man tent

[Ricardo F1]

Whoever has the best car. Again.

[Thanh Ha]

Originally posted by DSP
Just a slight note to say that (while at the same team) Barrichelo will be 20 times WDC before Button manages to win his first...

Thus, i find it quite strange to put an Option "Button" on this poll without putting the "Barrichelo" one.

P.S.-I'm NOT a Barrichelo fan......

I find it strange that despite being a 12 option limits for a poll, only 5 drivers a listed with an other, especially considering anything can happen, as we already saw this year.

[Pep]

Originally posted by Ricardo F1
Whoever has the best car. Again.

No, Kimi didn't win this year, it was Alonso ;)

[scheivlak]

Originally posted by Ricardo F1
Whoever has the best car. Again.

Still you have to make a choice in that case, unless you think that every team has a '#1A' and '#1B' car the whole season....

[capture_the_flag]

Originally posted by skinnylizard





i think your looking for the also ran list.

No. If Button mentioned as a WDC caliber, Barrichello also have to be mentioned.

Toyota drivers are top notch, and their car will be top notch either in 2006.

Giancarlo had a bad year, but he has a lot more speed that he can extract, don't underrate him.;)

[magicalonso]

Originally posted by Ricardo F1
Whoever has the best car. Again.

Since we probably agree that this year for the first time in many years the WDC was won by a driver with inferior equipment, it is probably a bit doubtful that it happens again next year. On the other hand we have 2 drivers on the grid who have proven to be capable of winning a WDC in inferior equipment (MS 94 and FA 05) so I guess anything can happen.

[Oho]

Originally posted by magicalonso

Since we probably agree that this year for the first time in many years the WDC was won by a driver with inferior equipment, it is probably a bit doubtful that it happens again next year. On the other hand we have 2 drivers on the grid who have proven to be capable of winning a WDC in inferior equipment (MS 94 and FA 05) so I guess anything can happen.

Gee who we? You and your buddies? For my taste which was the better car integrated over the season is very much an open issue, even given that McLaren had speed edge for more than two thirds of it....

[BorderReiver]

Originally posted by magicalonso

Since we probably agree that this year for the first time in many years the WDC was won by a driver with inferior equipment, it is probably a bit doubtful that it happens again next year. On the other hand we have 2 drivers on the grid who have proven to be capable of winning a WDC in inferior equipment (MS 94 and FA 05) so I guess anything can happen.

Define how the most consistantly reliable car with speed to win races is worse than one that can't get to the chequered flag.

[sainsburypeter]

Originally posted by Thanh Ha
I find it strange that despite being a 12 option limits for a poll, only 5 drivers a listed with an other, especially considering anything can happen, as we already saw this year.

I agree the list is one the shortside. Think I was just suffering from end of season cold turkey and was just thinking of the drivers near the top this year. Having said that the 'other' option is only getting 9% of the vote.

[HSJ]

Rosberg in a Williams-Cosworth. You read it here first. And then you laughed.

[yr]

Originally posted by magicalonso

Since we probably agree that this year for the first time in many years the WDC was won by a driver with inferior equipment

[davegp3]

This year the driver with no. 5 has won.

Next year I think it will be the same.

[Peter-Paul]

Originally posted by davegp3
This year the driver with no. 5 has won.

Next year I think it will be the same.

Yeah, and since 2001 till 2004 it was the number one car that won the WDC, so that's a non-argumentation IMO. Although, I must agree with you. I also think Michael Schumacher has a decent chance at winning the championship again. I think it will be between him and Renault, but don't underrate Toyota. I voted Alonso.