Tag Archives: 2009

Jun201007

Rob

1

Ferrari and Alonso getting on terms

Ferrari started the season with the best possible result, they beat everyone. Neither was it that unexpected, they had spent the best part of last year developing their ‘10 car at the expense of the ‘09 car, they had Felipe Massa back, and the former world champion Fernando Alonso joining to take them back to the front. Since then however it’s gone downhill and fast. We’re seven rounds in and they are only in touch because the other teams have squabbled over the wins.
So what has happened? Some of it is simple mistakes, they got in wrong in qualifying for the Malaysian GP and then add to that Alonso practice crash in Monaco and his latest error in Turkey that ensured a 6th row start and it’s always going to be hard to rack up serious points. Massa hasn’t been himself all season though whether that is Alonso showing [...]

Mar201031

Rob

0

Looking ahead to Malaysia – what’s in store at the next race?

The Malaysian Grand Prix has had a few shows in the past and has been a Ferrari stronghold at times but it’s the torrential rain that it’s famous for. Last year was the worst rain in recent history though for race day and the race had to be abandoned after just 36 laps with the win eventually going to Jenson Button though he only got half points.
The race retains it’s late afternoon start time so we’ll be hoping that the rain we had last year doesn’t make a reappearance on Sunday. The forecast doesn’t look that great though with Sunday having the least chance of rain at only 80%. If it does rain all weekend then the track is likely to be very green and the tyres will have a hard time, though if it rains in the race this won’t be an issue.
McLaren are trying to manage expectations ahead [...]

Mar201018

Rob

0

Will the words ‘Red Wash’ be spoken this year given the Ferraris performance in Bahrain?

The Ferraris put on a good show in Bahrain, they we’re surprised to see Sebastien Vettel take pole and I suspect that they may have had a little more to give had they thought he could put the Red Bull there. In the race they were reeling in the Red Bull before he had his problem and it seems that they were so much faster once released, it may have been a matter of time until they passed anyway, given that no one else seemed close could we have seen the first race of another so called ‘Red Wash’ season?
I think from the second that Ferrari chose to give up on the 2009 car there has been the distinct possibility that 2010 would be a Ferrari year, they have poured more time and effort into the 2010 car than anyone else on the grid and given their technical capability that [...]

Mar201006

Rob

1

Can Sebastien Vettel go one step further this season?

Sebastien Vettel stormed his way to second place in the World Championship in 2009 and he’ll want to go one step futher in 2010. The competition this season will be stronger for sure, McLaren and Ferrari won’t be off the pace and Mercedes will be in close company too so he’ll have to perform better than last year.
Red Bull seem quietly confident about their car, it has done well in winter testing but rarely did it grab the headline times – it did run faster more consistently than some though. It seems that they won’t miss out on any technical oversights like last year with the double diffuser – they would probably be world champions if they had used one from the first race in 2009.
To beat Jenson Button, Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso and Michael Schumacher to the title Vettel needs to start the season with the same raw [...]

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