Pains me to say it, but I voted Hamilton as my odds in favorite. Something tells me Vettel will find a way to let it slip through his fingers. That said, I expect a few top points finishes from LeClerc, bumping Bottas down the order and giving the Constructors title to the red cars.
I’ll be very happy for anyone but Hamilton. I have doubts that vettel can make it all the way without more awful mistakes. I’ll be rooting actively for LeClerc. Robb
How do you stop team Alien ? Endless funds and skills to improve the Mothership immediately after each battle. No stress on drivers, one recognized leader, one hapless blocker. Easy. Concerns over point stealing or a shifting balance of power between teammates (ie; the likelihood of wheel to wheel combat) are non issues. Unfortunately, this is a monumental advantage. Keys to victory over MB Tape down push to pass button. Receive clandestine Liberty sponsored 60 hp boost from untraceable fuel additive (recipe of banned Olympian trainer) Advise driver(s) to practice their Canadian whenever they’re losing time/positions Prognosis: a long season, Urkel going away.
I want the driver who gives everything and makes the fewest mistakes to win. That will be the only one that deserves it.
Vettel or Verstappen. Vettel has the better car for now, Red Bull is fast but I think Ferrari has something with their wings that neither Mercedes/Red Bull have, and Red Bull of course are slightly crippled with their engine. Mercedes I think are there but a closer Red Bull will take loads of points of them, and Ferrari have the strongest driver pairing of the top 3.
Ferrari clearly has the best, and most drive-able car right now, but I think LeClerc will be too close too Vettle on pace so they will cost each other points. Hammy is so far clear of Bottas they wont steal points from each other so I see Hammy getting #6 right now. Hopefully Binotto replacing Arrivabene (Partebene? ) will bring a calmer head less interested in throwing his own team under the bus at ever slight miss step, and as a team Ferrari will do a better job. The problem is Merc are just so efficient. They don't let set backs or issues bring them down. They don't start blaming themselves or each other. They just say 'we've got an issue or ****ed up' and they get on with it. They just put their heads down and develop their way out of issues. I'd really like to see someone completely new get a shot, but I just don't see anyone other than Seb having the equipment, skill most importantly the head game to put together a full season challenge, and we've seen Seb lose his **** frequently as well. Hopefully he'll be in a better place this year with fewer mistakes. Seb matching Hammy on five would be nice, but I'd rather see LeClerc take it, but as I say, too young and inexperienced although he will be a thorn in Seb's side. Even better I wish Ocon had replaced Bottas in the 2nd Merc. If Honda can continue the pace and reliability they've shown in the pre season then Mad-Mini-Max may have a shot, but I think he's still too immature and headstrong to put together a full season charge. He's going to get one one day, but I don't think yet. Don't tell anyone around here, but my heart will always be with McLaren. In reality though I'll be happy just to see consistent Q3 appearances and possibly a occasional (fluke?) podium.
[QUOTE="Adrian Thompson, post: 146487810, member: 7444" The problem is Merc are just so efficient. They don't let set backs or issues bring them down. They don't start blaming themselves or each other. They just say 'we've got an issue or ****ed up' and they get on with it. [/QUOTE] Which is why Italians will not take the crown this year.
Or let Pirelli and/or Whiting fix the problems for them. Assuming a level playing field, Verstappen will take it-fastest driver on the grid, team behind him 100%, Honda powered cars have looked good in testing. Ferrari I think will start out strong but will get out-developed.
Ferrari have to learn how to have team orders that work.... how often did we see the pair of them hanging back waiting for the team to actually say ‘Kimi, let Seb through’ or some other definitive simple order, while merc are not afraid to make the same calls, even to the extent of blatantly asking bottles to destroy his own race to slow down and hold off other cars. We have to be as ruthless, Seb must be number one, and Charles this year his number two. The team must make clear that Seb goes through every time, no fuss, and Charles is to race with everyone BUT Seb. In the event Seb finds himself too far behind, or out, then Charles gets his chance and is unleashed, and my god, I’ll bet he is a revelation when given his lead, but it MUST be Seb’s prerogative until/unless he proves he is no longer talented enough to win consistently. Last year he tried to carry the team after the FIA scuppered our car, and he tried to overdrive to take back the lost speed, and that is no way to drive to win consistently. This year, it looks like the car may well be capable of a title, so he must be given the environment to relax and drive at his best with no threat from Charles. Get this years title, and next year, maybe Charles gets his turn IF he proves himself this year and Seb leaves having achieved a title at Ferrari. Overall, let’s face it, whichever car is the best at the start of the season, if it’s more than a few tenths quicker, then the likelihood is, assuming no FIA meddling and no cheating wheel rims etc, that car will win the title, there isn’t enough opportunity for development to catch up too big a gap, ala Mercedes since 2014.
Red Bull is modifying their extreme size zero a little bit.....and frankly it concerns me. The engine is good but their lack of running with the engine turned up is starting to worry me. Maybe it was just cooling related due to RB's own size zero, but regardless. That said Red Bull's development is never short of amazing.
