16 replies to this topic

[V10 Fireworks]

Potentially an absolute blockbuster of a battle.

[Earthling]

Midland seem ahead in the picture.

I wonder why Toro Rosso (with all the money they have now being pretty much a Red Bull team), dont have all the resources that can be given to them.

Super Aguri in my books yet need to do a few laps to judge anything.... let alone decide who will drive for them. But they do have that Honda V8!

[Chubby_Deuce]

What's to suggest that STR doesn't have enough resources..?

[Earthling]

Originally posted by Chubby_Deuce
What's to suggest that STR doesn't have enough resources..?

The fact that they will use a rev limited V10!
Correct me if i'm wrong, but doesnt still having a V10 (atleast for a few races this year) mean that their car is designed for it? Hence its not something designed specifically for the V8 (need a differenc chassis body work et al....).

[Mohican]

Could be quite interesting to see how the drivers perform.

Midland have Monteiro and Albers, STR have Liuzzi and Speed, and Super Aguri have (presumably) Sato and A.N. Other.

My bets are on Sato.

[clipper]

Throwing in the tyre battle with super aguri and MF1 on bridgestone and STR on Michelin, I'll back STR with history telling us that bridgestone won't have the quality of product for all their teams

[JForce]

Super Aguri to be laps behind with the Arrows. Their new car could well be a Honda-copy, which will be very interesting

[Pilla]

Originally posted by Earthling


The fact that they will use a rev limited V10!
Correct me if i'm wrong, but doesnt still having a V10 (atleast for a few races this year) mean that their car is designed for it? Hence its not something designed specifically for the V8 (need a differenc chassis body work et al....).

They probably had a contract with Cosworth.

[baddog]

first races:

midland

str
super aguri

after launch of new car

midland
super aguri

str

[JForce]

Originally posted by baddog
first races:

midland

str
super aguri

after launch of new car

midland
super aguri

str

You basing that change on the step of the new SA car, the FIA clamping down on the STR V10, or a bit of both?

[baddog]

Originally posted by JForce


You basing that change on the step of the new SA car, the FIA clamping down on the STR V10, or a bit of both?

both.

Shaun

[themark]

If the V10 restriction regs stay as they are currently, I think STR will walk away with the backfield prize. The V10 just has too much torque advantage. Midland are looking like a real team this year (not a stop-gap) and may seriously challenge them later in the season, but I feel Aguri will have a tough slog. Unless they get some serious testing in on that new car it's going to drop onto the circuit as a completely untested brick. Remember the first Toyota? They spent a year developing it and it was still a donkey. SA will get faster during the season, but I doubt it will be faster than anyone else. The Honda engine will help, but a Ferrari engine in a Sauber didn't rocket them to the front.

As for the new SA chassis being a possible Honda copy... I seriously doubt that Honda would take the chance. The FIA is going to be keeping a cautious eye on that relationship. Honda has done a little too much lately to bring the wrath of the scrutineers their way, and I don't think they want any more attention. The engineers may come from Honda (Inc), but not from the current F1 team.

IMO... STR and Midland will be battling, and Aguri playing catch-up

[GhostR]

I suspect Honda will use Aguri as a training ground. Any prospective new Honda staff may find themselves encouraged to go to Aguri for a year or two, before either stepping up to the full Honda team or being discarded. Some existing Honda staff will be shifted across to Aguri to act as the teachers and assessors ... in the short term Aguri benefit, in the long term Honda do.

[Jerome]

Remember the first Toyota? They spent a year developing it and it was still a donkey.


Yeah... but that was rather suprising, wasn't it? I mean, when Honda had THEIR testbrick - Dallara it was quicker than most of the cars driving in the championships. Strange...

[Dudley]

That's because it never ran within half a mile of the minimum weight.

[Jerome]

Interesting... do you have some background, because I find it hard to believe. Methinks that Toyota was just way too conservative when they were developping the car - and that is supported by Mika Salo, who said just the same.

[Brian O Flaherty]

Going back on topic here. I think Toro Rosso will take the bottom-feeder prize. Their V10 engine is restricted, but it is only restricted so that it would not beat an equivalent V8 in a race - the equivalent being the V8 Cosworth in the Williams. Cosworth have to tune the V10 down compared to the output of THEIR V10, not Midland's Toyota.

It's not the intention of the equivalency formula to guarantee any V10 runners the slowest engine on the grid, only that they run fair compared to a similar V8.

In my opinion it will be interesting to see how close Midland get to STR, but I don't hold out too much hope for Aguri. Although I don't know how much help they will be getting from Honda. ..... and as for Sato. I was his biggest fan and defended him to the death all his F1 career but last year was inexcusable - he basically made a show of himself in a good car. He has it all to do this year if he is to recover any reputation.