which team(s) will get it all wrong next year

I have a feeling mercedes 'could' do well, as long as the accounts learn not to give a F about share holders. They're in the maybe pile.

Mclaren is always stupidly difficult to read. Red Bull and Ferrari will do well.

 

Red Bull, Ferrari and McLaren will all be strong, because they have more $$$ to spend and the experience to make it count.

Renault is an unknown... they seem to be getting by but not looking to spend a ton of money to be at the front.

Mercedes is another unknown. They seem to not be letting Ross Brawn run the show the way he should be allowed to run the show. If they don't stop that, they will again be mid-pack. If they spend the $$ and let him run it the way he wants, they may be up front, you never know.

Virgin and HRT may not even be in F1 next year, but if they are, they will continue to embarass themselves at the back. Especially Virgin, which is the biggest embarrassment F1 has seen in years. They should quit while they're behind. Lotus will be the best of the back three.

Sauber will be like Williams, ahead of the backmarkers but behind the leaders and behind Mercedes and Renault.


So basically it will be just like this year

 

not so sure. They have one of the biggest bank accounts in F1, adrian newey and his team...They seemed to do alright in 2009 as well, remember that the Brawn was designed with the double diffuser in mind and Red Bull was one of the last teams to put it on, and even without the double diffuser the car was blindingly quick.

 

I think you're mistaken.....

Newey is arguably *the* best designer in F1 right now with lots of winning designs (WC cars with Williams, Mclaren & now RBR at least IIRC). Mateschitz seems to not care what it costs (Newey didn't come cheap!) but wants to win. I'm certain he's not going to break up a winning combo.

OTOH, they've all fielded dogs over the years, so who knows?

Cheers,
Ian

 

For my money, it's Red Bull and Mercedes, -if- Mercedes has truly been working on the '11 car in the background.

Renault is effectively moribund, HRT/Virgin don't matter, Lotus might be a stronger midpack challenger. I don't see any significant change in the Force India/Williams/Sauber alignments.

Ferrari and McLaren are always in the mix (at least in the last 10 years or so).

I thought there was some regulation coming in that was going to force Toro Rosso to be sold?

The real question is who the number 2 at Red Bull will be?

 

The regulations you might be thinking of mandate that the teams become their own constructors. In that right Red Bull Technology no longer produces the car for both teams. STR is a fully fledged constructor in their own right in Farenza (wind tunnel still in England though) and to accomplish this has hired 45+ engineers recently

 

With new tires, no DD diffuser and F-duct next season it can be a real crap shoot next season. Just imagine if at the test in Abu Dabi next week Ferrari finds that the F60 handles like a run away slinky. They go and redesign the suspension system and get it all wrong and are found chasing Farce India and Lotus. It can happen to any of the teams. We will really know who got it right at the first race of 2011.

 

+1

Totally agree with this. Red Bull isn't a flash in the pan, they have been climbing up through the ranks year on year to get where they are.

The only thing you could say about Red Bull that's an unknown is their ability to improve as a season goes on. At the start of this year, the McLaren was an absolute dog. Towards the middle of the season it was the clear #2 just behind the Red Bull. The Ferrari was a pig earlier as well, and now it is the clear #2 just behind the Red Bull.

Maybe RBR have been improving as well? But they seemed to have a difficult time catching the Brawns last year... so if they get it wrong in '11, it's uncertain how quickly they will be able to rectify the situation and get back on top.

 

what's happening with KERS?

 

I think the pecking order will be pretty similar next year. My fear is that next year, if RBR reliability improves, it won't come down to the last race.

I believe McLaren and Ferrari will be fighting for second.

Merc.... I'm not too hopeful. I think they need more engineering direction and less corporate influence. I'm concerned Ross may have been glad to be rescued after the lack of sponsorship during last years "winning" season. Even with last years early dominance due to the diffuser advantage, stuggles towards the end of the season seemed significant... I can still see Button swerving before corners to keep heat in the tires. I don't see another "diffuser" type development advantage and their in season development was fairly dismal. Hell they've started doing better after they stopped developing the W01 which to me- isn't a good sign for hope in next years design. I hope I'm wrong as I would like to MS on the podium again.

 

Mercedes

 

KERS is optional in 2011, but Ferrari say they will be running it.

 

This time around the minimum weight is high enough to make KERS more attractive.

 

It's a no brainer, a short burst of extra HP's, If a team does not have Kers they will be in the rear. It should be a little safer do to no refueling.

 

If i recall correctly Ferrari did very well with KERS until they had to move the batteries, which messed up their balance for the rest of the year (that was their excuse anyway)

sooooooooo.....hopefully they get it right from the start this time.

The mclaren unit seemed the best....would that be shared with Mercedes?

 

As I remember they never raced with the intended configuration and suffered for it all season

 

someone will clarify....I thought an early race or two? Maybe I just remember good lap times from pre season testing. *shrug*

 

Red Bull will be the one to get it all wrong, remember the years before 2009, Adrian Newey and all. Ferrari, Mclaren and I fear Mercedes will be 2011's Red Bull, unfortunately Michael's too old and still living in the past trying to get past Alonso on the safety car and taking out Barichello. Renault will stay were they're at and Fernandes' Lotus or whatever name they use will be going up against Toro Rosso and Force India who will make a bit of a step backwards will their engineering talent gone. Don't forget about HRT and their deal with Toyota, the TF110 or whatever its called has been under constant development for all of 2010 and are undoubtedly producing a 2011 car, so with the right driver combination they might be doing quite well.

 

Schumi's move on Alonso was great and heads up and he didn't take out Barrichello.

 

It should be the best they spent far more than anyone else on developing. Indeed, enough to run a team at the back of the grid

 

Number one pick is Mercedes.
They are trying to do F1 with accountants running the show.
Which actually is the way it should be done so that all the major world manufacturers could justify participation.
Doesnt work when others dont play by these rules.

Ferrari and Mclaren will continue to be the contenders.
Red Bulls advantage of Adrian Newey and his years of experience and creativity work well in the no-test climate of today.
Whether he can pull another rabbit out of the hat next year is a guess.

There will probably be one wild card team that gets the recipe just right but without testing it will be a fluke like Brawn last year and RBR this year.

Ferrari and Mclaren will catch up if they dont have that magic car.