Yes yes, Line them up cuz it's more of the same!

Three to Seven Loses Every Time. Who's Lauda to talk about what Michael can and cannot do? He was probably saying that Michael couldn't win four, then five, then six, then seven titles. Guess what Niki? He did.

 

I'll make someone a $100 bet that Michael won't win the 2005 driver's championship.

 

The only way he can win is if his tyres suddenly improve and remain consistently good. He needs to be competitive on the level shown at Imola for the remainder of the season in order to have a chance.

At what time during the 2003 season did the Bridgestones come good?

 

Only after they accused Michelin of cheating ...

Oh and Lauda is right this time!

Pete

 

I generally think Lauda is a schmuck, but i think he's right this time too.

 

Sorry to brake the news to you, but I think Niki as you call him, knows a thing or two more that anyone at this forum about F1!

It is just an opinion, with a better base than yours or mine!

- Julio.

 

It is important to remember that Lauda was one of the first to write Michael off in 2003.

 

Niki gets it wrong sometimes, no question. But he also doesn't sugarcode. A straight shooter and none of the PR and PC nonsense everybody else comes up with.

 

Sure, I am not saying he is right, but he should not be treated as somebody that knows nothing about F1, after all he has been more than a casual WC in a drivers era.

I too think that MS still counts for the WC, if he can win in the next couple of races and keep up that momentum afterwards. It is unlikely this is going to happen though, unless Bridgestone comes up with a miracle.

What I think is sure is that Ferrari is out of the constructors WC, because I seriously think than RB is completly unable to setup/handle correctly the new car.

- Julio.

 

This week's Monte Carlo race is the key.
In ' 03 Michael finished third, behind the
winner J.P. Montoya. Last year Rubens
finished third, behind the winner J. Truli,
who drove the Renault, while J.P.M. rear-ended
Michael in the tunnel under the safety flag,
ending Schumacher's five-consecutive win
streak to start a season.
It will be a new site in the Royal Box with
the absence of the late Prince Ranier.
Likely, Prince Albert will present the winner's
trophy, replacing his late father, while his
sister Princess Caroline moves up to present
the second place trophy. Here's hoping
the recipients are the representatives of
the Scuderia.

 

Did you write that on a C-64?

Sorry, no offense, couldn't resist.


I think Michael has a good chance of winning if we see some rain over the weekend. He is der Regenmeister after all and has a great track record for Monaco. Also cool weather would help the Bridgestones. If it doesn't rain, though break.

 

The speculation around the factory and those who are close to the team is to start development on the F2006 or an F2005M!!!

Jean Todt and Michael are not ready to give up on this season, but the threat that Ferrari may not win the constructor's world championship this year is real. Rubens has been spending considerable amount of time with race engineers and technical experts beyond the race track to understand the F2005.

The general consent from the team is that the combination of the F2005 and Bridgestone is a difficult poackage to handle. When optimizing performance of a race car the team has a basic equation to solve. That equation has variables like setup, tire pressure, treads, engine etc etc. The equation also has constraints.

Mathematically speaking, the constraints and the margin of error on the equation is too tight!

 

Thanks for your very interesting comments. I would write off the season and start working on the 2006 car. Having said that I remember Ferrari was one of the first teams to just do that last year (not writing off of course, but stopping development on the 04 car and work on the 05 one).

I also wonder how these insights compare to Luca's bold statement about the tires. It probably isn't that simple and the car has to be blamed somewhat as well.

 

It is always about the package. The tires react differently to the F2004, differently to the F2004M and differently to the F2005. One can never blame the Bridgestone tires for everything.

Luca's comments however are justified. Let me explain. The F2005 has a certain distinct over the competition. Pace and acceleration! That distinct advantage cannot be capitalized on given the current supply of tires. Let me assure you the F2005 is faster than the Renault or any other car on the grid for that matter.

 

It's good to know that at least there's a few of us tired of seeing all the negativity that abounds. I think that at this point in time the ONLY person WITHOUT any negativity in F1 is Michael! Here's something from this morning:

(this sure beats the hell out of Whiney and his negative comments about his car - McLaren 'difficult' - Montoya - 17 May 2005)

Forza Ferrari

Carol

Giving up not an option for Schumacher
Tuesday May 17 2005 00:00 IST
REUTERS

LONDON: Ferrari's Michael Schumacher is looking forward to Sunday's Monaco Grand Prix as much as ever, even if others have written off the Formula One champion's chances already.

"I always enjoy coming here. It's just a lot of fun to wind your way through the streets," the German said on his website on Monday.

"Even though it will be difficult for us this time, because the position on the starting grid at Monaco is somewhat decisive for the outcome of the race, that does not diminish my excitement.

"We are looking forward to taking on this challenge. Giving up is not an option, but giving up before you try is completely out of the question," added Schumacher.

"This is sports and in sports anything is possible."

Schumacher has not won a race since the penultimate round of last season in Japan, the longest drought he has suffered since joining Ferrari in 1996.

Ferrari, constructors' champions for the past six years, won 15 of the 18 races last season but have gone without a victory for six races now.

Renault, winners in Monaco last year, have won four out of five races with Spain's Fernando Alonso leading the championship after three victories.

Austrian Niki Lauda said at the weekend that Schumacher's title hopes were over, with Alonso on 44 points and the German just 10.

The 36-year-old has retired three times in five races this year and his failure to finish the last round in Spain means he must run early in Saturday's first qualifying when track conditions are unfavourable.

"The rules call for that and we will naturally try to make the best of it," said Schumacher. "We may be going through somewhat of a weak phase right now but that's the way it is in sports - there are always ups and downs.

"We were doing extremely well for an unusually long period of time and now we're having to struggle a little bit. But we know what the reasons for that are and that's the most important thing," added the German.

Schumacher has won five times in Monaco but not since 2001, retiring last year after a bizarre collision with Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya's Williams in the tunnel while following the safety car.

 

Imperial,

I'll be the one to ask then.

Okay you have stated that you have moved to Italy and now either work for the factory or trying to ... come on mate, we need some proof or atleast a role.

You surely do not think that just because you have added that: "The speculation around the factory ...", that we are alll of a sudden supposed to take your words as fact?

Anyway I appreciate your logical conclusion that it is not just the tyres and a car is an assembly of many components that have to work together

And yes if Ferrari are still fncking around with the F2005 then they are stupid. This season is GONE, lets get working on next year so we can get back to the top and not do a Williams and spend 5+ years stuffing around.

And concrats if you really have moved to Italy and working or attempting to work for the factory ... but please understand my sceptisim, we have had many bogus car owners (note I do not own a Ferrari), etc. ... it is the Internet after all
Pete

 

Pete,
I completely understand your doubts. I am not really in Italy. I do try to make it to all the races when work permits. I have also made it to a few testing sessions this year. No real role with the team. But I have a diferent role to play... I have to remain the Ferrari fanatic that I always was!

I have volunteered my services on several occasions to the Scuderia. However, I think they are smart not to take me up on the offer. If it were up to me I would sabotage all the other cars just to see a Ferrari 1 - 2!

 

... okay you got me. Man was I jealous!

Pete

 

What exactly is it that you do, if you don't mind me asking? Also, whereabouts do you live?

Your profile doesn't lend much insight.

 

You have a PM!

 

You have a PM!

Ferrari 1 - 2... less than a week to go!