Archive for 'analysis'

Feb201107

Rob

0

Full season report: Virgin

Virgin came into F1 with the only CFD designed car and have been the slowest out there really, HRT never really got going performance wise. After their terrible blunder with the size of the fuel tank they do seem to have found the time to move forward speed wise and have sometimes beaten the Lotus team, with a major new investor they should have the finances to push the team forward.
Timo Glock has been a solid driver for Virgin, he has pushed the car and moved the whole project forward, he hasn’t really been racing anyone all year though as there are no other teams at the same pace other than an occasional Lotus.
Lucas di Grassi hasn’t performed as well, he has been involved in some ridiculous incidents and apart from the occasional blinder in qualifying hasn’t done much form the driving side, I wonder if a young Russian driver [...]

Feb201107

Rob

0

Full year report: Renault

Renault have flattered to deceive all year, in practice they are fast, Robert  sometimes even gets them near the front in qualifying but the never seem to be able to convert in into race pace. Vitaly Petrov hasn’t exactly excelled in the other car and they don’t seem to have had the development regime of the other teams.
Robert Kubica has been the star of the Renault show and if there were places at one of the top teams he would be heading there, but as there isn’t he’ll be at Renault next year plugging away trying to ensure that he stays on peoples radar, he might even get a podium.
Vitaly Petrov hasn’t impressed all year, he has had accident after incident and hasn’t been consistent in any way. If he hadn’t paid for his drive I doubt he’d still be racing, Flavio would have had him out races ago.
Renault need [...]

Feb201107

Rob

0

Full year report: Williams

Williams have had a lacklustre season, they haven’t really threatened other than when the track is damp, and even then not the front. Barrichello has hauled the car into the points on more occasions than it deserved and Hulkenberg has started to pick up the places too but ultimately a lack of pace on long runs has meant that they fade on a Sunday even when they have done well in qualifying.
Rubens Barrichello is the most experienced guy in F1 and he has shown it this year with some decent races finishes and the fact that Williams have bee able to develop the car at such a pace. It will be ashame if he bows out of F1 without a fanfare, but I can’t see why he would.
Nico Hulkenberg had a lot to prove coming into this season, the field is a wash with young Germans and he hasn’t done [...]

Feb201107

Rob

0

Full year report: Hispania

Hispania Racing only just made the start of the season and are rooted to the bottom of the standings. Their car just isn’t fast enough and has never looked like being so. They have swapped drivers around and haven’t had an experienced driver to drive the car. With funding for next year still uncertain and the team never really having got started it seems deals with Williams are the next best thing. If they start next year then they need to start putting in performances that trouble the bottom teams otherwise why bother.
Bruno Senna all of his uncle attitude but I haven’t seen the raw pace or the fire, maybe it’s hidden inside the awful car but he needs to provide something for people to get excited about if he wants to stay in F1, his name will only get him so far.
Karun Chandhok was a nice guy who was [...]

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