Thursday, July 22, 2010

Another Review of those F1 Predictions

June 17th:
Driver's Champion: Lewis Hamilton
He'll rebound in a big way, especially when we get to the European part of the calendar.
Constructor's Champion: Ferrari
Those red cars are fast.
Most wins on the season: Fernando Alonso
I'm thinking he'll win five races, while Hamilton will eventually win four.
First Driver to be Replaced: Karun Chandhok, HRT
I'm think that Jose Maria Lopez or Sebastian Bourdais may find their way into the race seat opposite Bruno Senna.
Will Bernie go away at season's end?
No. Unfortunately no.
Who will fill the race slot vacated by the defunct USF1?
Most likely Stefan GP. I can't see Epsilon Eusakdi, or Prodrive moving in.

Alright, so that's what we said in March of this year, after only one race. We're now eight races in and things have certainly changed. So let's view the new and updated predictions for the 7/16 mark of the season...

Driver's Champion: Lewis Hamilton
He'll rebound in a big way, especially when we get to the European part of the calendar. Remember us saying that earlier and back in March. Well, Lewis has taken two of the first three European races. Valencia at the end of the month looks good for McLaren as well.
Constructor's Champion: Vodafone McLaren Mercedes
While Ferrari was our original pick, it looks as though those red cars aren't as good as we thought. Yes, Alonso is reaching the podium, but with nowhere near the consistency that Button and Hamilton are reaching it.
Most wins on the season: Lewis Hamilton
Lewis is already halfway to what I predicted he'd win, and we aren't even to the midpoint of the season. I'm starting to think Lewis may take home five or six wins.
First Driver to be Replaced: Karun Chandhok, HRT
I'm think that Jose Maria Lopez or Sebastian Bourdais may find their way into the race seat opposite Bruno Senna. That was our original pick and we're sticking with it. Chandhok, even in one of the new backmarker cars, is consistently running upwards of 4 to 7 seconds of the leader's pace. In F1, he might as well be walking as going that slow.
Will Bernie go away at season's end?
No. Unfortunately no. In fact, I hear he's looking at a vacation home in Austin, Texas.
Who will fill the race slot vacated by the defunct USF1?
Trick question, doesn't look like the FIA is going to let anyone else in.

So, what's right, wrong, and new?

Driver's Champion: Lewis Hamilton
That's right, we're sticking with Lewis for the title. He's not only consistent, but he's showing the aggressiveness that made him champion in 2008, only now he's coupled it with the maturity of a few seasons.

Constructor's Champion: Vodafone McLaren Mercedes
Also sticking with McLaren for the Constructor's title. Lewis is driving very well, and Jenson just overcame a P14 in qualifying by driving the wheels off at Silverstone and getting to P4 at the end.

Most wins at the end of the season: Lewis Hamilton
Yes, Webber has 3 now and Lewis only has 2. But Lewis drives well at Hockenheim and Spa, two of the next four races.

First Driver to be replaced: Karun Chandhok, HRT
We are partially right on this one. Bruno Senna was replaced by Sakon Yamamoto at Silverstone, but Karun will be replaced for the next few races by Yamamoto. Although, Renault is stirring the rumor mill with stories about Vitaly Petrov.

Will Bernie go away at season's end?
Still no. In fact, that kooky old man is now threatening to pull the Monaco Grand Prix. Yeah, that'll go over well with fans.

There was a question about USF1's spot. We just don't care anymore.

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