Thursday, March 09, 2006

F1 season 2006.... Start your engines

The 2006 F1 season is about to start with the first race in Bahrain this weekend. Current world champ Fernando Alonso is tipped to be challenging the podium along with Kimi Raikkonen, former and 7 times world champ Michael Schumacher, and expect good results from Button and Barrichello of Honda.

The season is going to be interesting with tyre changes allowed and new v8 engines replacing the v10's with exception of Torro Rosso, which will be using the rev limited V10. Maybe just maybe Toro Rosso will be in the position to get some reasonable results in the first couple of races with new drivers Liuzzi, and Scott Speed of USA.
Speed with his apt last name will be the first American on the f1 grid since 1993.

BMW took over Sauber, and dumped Williams or visa-versa. Red Bull took over Minardi and is now called Scuderia Toro Rossa. Honda brought out BAR, and now is just Honda. Midland took over Jordan. Super Agri is running old 2002 Arrows chassis and is a new team with Honda support, and Williams is partnered with Cosworth.

There is plenty of driver changes and the qualifying format has changed, so I am predicting that 2006 is going to be one of the most interesting seasons since..... last year. I can't wait to get up in the middle of the night to watch races on the speed channel. I'd like to attend either Indy or Montreal this year...?

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dion says,

F1 has become a high speed parade for drivers who may as well be playing playstation drive games. I give respect for the drivers indurance though.
Bernie in my opinion has lost the plot in making the formula slower and potentially more safe? Motor sport is all about risk and reward. This creates exitement unlike seeing slower cars each year.
Which brings me to my point, what is the point of F1 today? In the past it was pioneering technological breakthroughs to achieve incredible speeds on the track, which would then trickle down to hi-po street cars.
Furthermore I have yet to see a good aggressive passing manouvre attempted in the last 5 years. What exactly are the drivers paid to do. Ride a computer guided missle for an hour and a half!

On a posotive note: A1 GP is a breath of fresh air in open wheel racing. It has it all: There's a clutch on the car for launches! A manual gearbox! No traction aids! There's passing of other racecars. Tyre changes! Teams cooperating to make sure all teams are racing (parts sharing). Not to mention there is actual racing of cars which has been missing from F1 for a long time, come on Bernie get with the programme!
Now if you win on Sunday

Rob Good said...

Noid.... F1 is back