Roger Benoit's predictions and comments on the 2008 season

Boliden Benoit made some comments after the first practice day:

http://www.blick.ch/sport/formel1/blick-benoit-xy-86118

Some excerpts:

"Kimi will be the 2008 champion."

"No traction control helps mostly Kimi, Vettel and Kubica."

"Q: Do you miss the Schumacher brothers?" "Not necessarily."

"Q: What's your biggest story?" "Hard to say, I've been in the business since 1969, but the transfer story of Kimi was cool. A woman told me the secret <and Blick printed it> while it was still denied everywhere else" BTW: You guys read it here first on FChat.

"I think Rosberg is as strong as Hamilton."

"Q: Will Ron remain as team manager" "Unlikely. There is lots of pressure to get him out this year."
"Q: What will happen to McLaren after Ron's departure?" "Not much. They will operate with less chaos and less pressure/scrutiny from the FIA."

"Q: What rookie will do best this year?" "Vettel and Nakajima."

Translations aren't verbatim but within the meaning/context. And did you know: The gearbox now has to last 4 races or you loose 5 spots on the grid.

 

I don't speak or read German very well. Since Andreas is a really terrific guy, and since I light candles every Sunday asking for Andreas and Ted to be forgiven for their lack of knowledge concerning Massa, and since Andreas likes Roger Benoit, I have attempted to have this rather interesting article partially translated. It is "gisted", in other words, you will get the "gist" of the article.



The formula 1 starts in Melbourne into its 59th season! VIEW-expert Roger Benoit answered after the training in the chat the many questions of the view. ch-user.


The Interview(partial):

Question of Berni books, train: Does everyone ask itself, who the surprise team in the new season becomes? My question reads however: Which team becomes the disappointment in that 2008? Did they calculate be could also the fear, that these the BMW-cleanly team? Anwort of Roger Benoit: We ask ourselves yes, that here also. And after the first training day, one can say yet nothing exact, it would be formed speech into a ball at present, but Renault BMW-clean and Williams-Toyota should be actually better. That BMW-cleanly becomes a disappointment – that I cannot imagine. They bet no money on that!

Röthlisberger Reto, Luterbach: Which drivers does the omission of the section ion inspection come effectively most toward?

Roger Benoit: I would name there Räikkönen, Kubica and Vettel in front.

Hollowly Hansueli Oberegg: How strong is BMW-cleanly actual? Does one can until after the Friday training yet bluff? Best greetings.

Roger Benoit: The case seems that to be. Look at today night around 4 the qualification and your question is answered. Theissen reckons with the Startplätzen 5 and 7...

Christoph killed, Hunzenschwil: Hold what they forbid of that the section ion inspection? one seems there yes divided opinion to its. I please me in any case thereon. I think however not, that it much more überholmanöver give becomes. what must according to its opinion yet changed become so that the F1 becomes again intereessanter? what is you hint who world champion becomes? I hope for the red, would venture however no prognosis, there each time if I on the red Lost.

Roger Benoit: The training day first already showed it, again more mistakes are made. More dangerous it will rain first, wenns. Perhaps there are again more thrilling races in general.

Lucarelli, Ranit, Kloten: Mr. Benoit, 1.) compliment, the best sides in the view is definitive the F1-Berichte of you.

Roger Benoit: Thank for the compliment. I will give myself far effort. The most important is the joy in the occupation and the engagement. Without joke, does nothing run with me.

Nepa, Pino, Lucerne: How strongly do you estimate BMW-cleanly? Roger Benoit: I just answered that. I would say, am BMW-clean the third or fourth power 2008.

Sifrig, Andrea, train: What think you has, who the best chances to get the title? Or what do you believe, over if goes the title race this year?
Roger Benoit: Red or silver – in another car color, the world champion sits hardly.

Patrick, Lucerne: What should I give my of cleanly enthused colleague to the birthday? whom possible not all too expensively? Roger Benoit: Perhaps a train trip after Monza and a ticket for the race?

Ben Hasler, Bern: What are the most important rule modifications (zb Qualifying) for the new season?

Roger Benoit: Section ion inspection away. Transmission must hold four races (otherwise gives it 5 start places fewer), motor two races (otherwise 10 start places), to be sure one can change on Friday transmission and motor without punishment, counts only at the Weekend.

Dani, lovely bank: Do you miss personally the Schumacher-brothers? Roger Benoit: Not unconditionally. Both gave the sport much, but each era goes once to end in the pro sport. But it was good that the Schumis were there.

Mitchell Dettwyler, Mönchaltorf: Good day Mr. Benoit. Have for wievielen years you reported scho over the formula 1? What were you largest report in the view/Sunday view over the formula 1?

Roger Benoit: Have I been since 1969 there and the largest reports? Hardly to answer. Often are it small exclusive News that please me or then a title story of the Räikkönen-transfer to Ferrari. There was denied etc. everywhere. Six months of late wars officially. The secret had betrayed a woman, I may not say more.

Schumi: Does it give against a scandal such as 2007?

Roger Benoit: If do not let's hope it once and if, it doesn't have to be again a espionage case...

Maschi, Zurich: Good evening roger, wanted to be enclosed make only a compliment for that with you! Roger Benoit: You should work sooner...

Tony, Unteriberg: What do you hold of Hinz Prüller? I would think that is and was previously the best commentator who had the German-speaking region ever.

Roger Benoit: I owe imagined Heinz Prüller very much, it before almost 40 years star such as Rindt or Stewart. For that I am grateful to it. Prüller is a legend and hopes to be yet long there. Its know and the art to write books, are enormous.

Roobsta Bremgarten: Mr. Benoit, you name Vettel, Kubica and Raikönnen as largest pro expensive of the new ban of the section ion inspection! How think you will come the new star of the F1-Himmel, Lewis Hamilton therewith right?

Roger Benoit: Hamilton? The second season is often more difficult. Yet it has the master test before itself. I estimate Rosberg exactly so strongly.

Gisler novel, London: How do you see the chances of Piquet, to be able to offer Alonso paroli?

Roger Benoit: In the first year not especially largely.


Mugg, Goldach: Will ron denise remain this year team boss in the silver?

Roger Benoit: Hardly, the FIA wants it away – and Mercedes makes pressure behind the scenery, wants finally at the power (like BMW in cleanly).

Estermann Florian, Lucerne: Where moves, your opinion after, the formula in the future?

Roger Benoit: More and more to Asia, there the necessary money lies will survive. however some Europe-classics. Let God be thanks to.

Poorly, Zurich: Did the formula 1 lose at charisma in the last 20 years? Seems that in the current time each word probably considers, each advertisement on the Milimeter positions to me and is every driver ´verstandardlicht´. Times – strategies – tire – where are the special stories (or persons)? remained?

Roger Benoit: Exactly so it is. Many drivers became speaking puppet of its marketing-teams.

Michael, Winterthur: Do you think that kimi raikkonen defends the title? Roger Benoit: Yes.

Hansli, Solothurn: Whom do of the F1 novices they credit this year most?

Roger Benoit: Vettel and Nakajima!!

Penta, Michael, Bünzen: Do you assess in Kimi a variation since it is in Ferrari? It makes me a very calm impression! What do you mean in addition??

Roger Benoit: That agrees. In McLaren-Mercedes, he never was comfortable observes and only. Another driver would be broken there, always said itself he: l.. me at the A...

Stefan Gentner, Bern: Would good day Mr. Benoit, they say is after the first the Mclaren yet more closely at Ferrari at it to both free trainings, supposed have than many?

Roger Benoit: Unconditionally, two-tenth are not missing there already yet. In Räikkönen, one went in the second training into the incorrect direction with the voting. But just: Mistakes happen also in Ferrari.

Bower Rolf, Rekingen: Good day Mr. Benoit how the pilots changed themselves according to its opinion in that the last 30 years. Differently asked, would get Gilles Villeneuve heuteüberhaupt another contract.

Roger Benoit: Without section ion inspection and from 2009 again with Slicks, the Kanadier would be a hot driver, but just too old. The money and the High-Tech-orgy changed the formula 1 unfortunately, that created good old spirit on the side. But the development is not to be delayed.

Bringold Philipp, Reinach: Do I think, you more know write may than you: -) that is so?

Roger Benoit: Correct or I would be hardly so long there, would come less to information behind the scenery. But that what can I write, should suffice, or?

Samuel Huber, Embrach: With which driver do you find to one side of at the sympathisten?

Roger Benoit: Oh, good question. The best buddies are in the retirement... or as a TV-star or team bosses there... Now, with Kimi, Massa, Kubica, Fisichella, Rosberg and Vettel, I understand myself certainly not badly. But sympathies are not always of advantage in the journalism. I am rather the critic of a rather disputed sport.

Meier Willi, Saland: Errinnern you yourself at name such as Siffert, Regazzoni, Hunt, Rindt etc. I found that in spite of the deaths, that unfortunately happened-the also cool race. Or?

Roger Benoit: Jo, Clay and James were friends of me. The races were clear at that time more thrilling and around a tenfold dangerous.

Insaneer, Zurich: Rather Roger, the supplement today the insanity was. Also for me as a soccer-interested. Congratulation! Roger Benoit: Yes, the Mr. Vettel and European champion Germany. It was fun it to type all results. You are well Schalke-Fan..

Mugg, Goldach: How does the departure of Ron Denis become on on Mercedes effect itself?

Roger Benoit: Largely, it quiet will not stop and more loosely treats the silver arrows of the FIA. Now, Mosley and Ecclestone were even for 30 years no friends of the often arrogant Ron Dennis.

Hansli, solothurn: Why do you see just Vettel and Nakajima as a climber? I have will come sooner the feeling, both through its teams not correctly to the train. Did clearly both also already indicate large talent and this, but irhe teams will be also dependable enough so that both the breakthrough create?

Roger Benoit: Await, view many observers of the scene not only on the naked results. Shall we speak in a year again?

Non-smoker out of not smoke: I find would damage it that you have always a cigar in the mouth. This is not very exemplary!!

Roger Benoit: Now, therewith the environment must live. There is enough places where it is forbidden.

 

Not sure I like Roger, but I respect somebody whose sole job is to report F1 and has been doing it for 40 years. That's not to say Roger never gets it wrong. He sometimes does. But he also has an inside line like nobody else. After all he organizes the team internal F1 betting pool for all the team managers and drivers. Bernie is his best buddy.

So when he leaked that Raikkoenen would be at Ferrari, you could take that to the bank.

 

+1 on those two...especially the latter

Nonsense. He is a German praising another German driver. (Nico has German citizenship and doesn't even speak Finnish)

I don't get this guy's hard-on for Vettel. He and Kunicka are OK drivers but certainly not front-runners. I think guys like Webber and Jenson Button will do well without TC as will Hamilton and Alonso. Kimi is adapting to the loss of electronics perfectly.

 

Now Ted, who the Hell are you to even know of Rosberg is or isn't as strong as Hamilton? You have this Hamiltonitis that is getting really weird. This guy Benoit has been at at it a lot longer than you or I, he is obviously closer to the program than you or I, and just like me he isn't convinced YET about Hamilton. What is nonsense tro quote you, is your biased unsupported opinion, or should I say guess about Hamilton's superiority? And it seems much of the praise for Hamilton comes from the British press, just as biased as your accusation of Benoit's bias as a German (is he, name sounds French?). I do not know yet either way about Hamilton, time will tell, but certainly not one season.

And a lot of people TRACKSIDE hav a high regard for Vettel. For me the just is our on him also. Possibly in a car as good as the McLaren he might be een quicker than your lover boy Hamilton.

Please read the entire response by Benoit when asked if he missed the Schumachers: "Not unconditionally. Both gave the sport much......it was good the the Schumis were there." You took it out of context again to try to make your feable point. He is actually positive about both Schumachers. I know, one German praising two others. Geeeeez.


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Three things:

1) Hamilton and Rosberg were teammates in the junior formula, where Hamilton significantly outperformed Nico.

2) Keke refused to allow Nico to join McLaren as he felt being beaten by Hamilton in an equal car would damage Nico's career.

3) In their respective rookie seasons against their own teammates, Nico was beaten by Mark Webber (a career midpack runner and no threat to the WDC) while Hamilton beat the two-time defending WDC.

Hmmmm... Vettel was frequently outpaced by the illustrious Liuzzi in the STR. Hardly even worth mentioning what Vettel could do in a McLaren vs. what Hamilton has done, now is it?

By the way, a lot of people trackside have a pretty high opinion of Hamilton, don't you think? Doesn't that count for something?

 

Benoit is Swiss, not German. And anybody who knows a bit about the Swiss realizes, that they are not that hot about anybody coming from Germany (has many reasons including WWII). So he really must have a high regard for Rosberg and Vettel.

Benoit does have a bias for the BMW team because in Switzerland they still think of them as the Sauber team, which is not unreasonable as the team is still based in Switzerland with about half the staff being Swiss.

Regarding the Schumachers: Benoit actually liked both of them. He was disappointed when Ralf left and he had a positive bias for Michael because he lives in Switzerland. I admit I took that a bit out of context for effect. But that didn't escape the unbiased <cough, cough> eye of scrutineer Ron.