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[1]
F1 Season 15
SM
ASH
IN
G F
UN
In case you’re used to us or bored of us churning out our usual mag every single time, you’re in luck. We’re still churning ‘em out, but our super-special-bumper-edition-collectors-issue-for-supernerds focusses solely on previewing the F1 season ahead. So it doesn’t matter what race you’re from who you race for, there’s something to interest you. Doug Walker has the dope.
THERE’S A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE
[2]
SMASHING FUN
MAGAZINE
DisclaimerW e d o n o t smash th ings nor have any fun. But we sure wish we did.
As the drum rolls begin to build in intensity and the curtain raiser draws near, we realise the magnitude of our own ineptitude to cover the season’s start. But fear not, for Doug Walker is close at hand to paper over those cracks and pander to the peanut gallery.
After dying an unforeseeable death at a young age, the eulogies weren’t many for
Season 14 of the RLB F1 circus. For some, the season bore out much promise and we were witnessing a title fight that was at once titanic and momentous, the likes of
which promised full worth of the price of an admission ticket. For others, the season
couldn’t get over soon enough for it bore out much agony and heartache without the minor thrill of any sort of reward on the horizon. With the first ever truncated
season a part of the history books now, and deservedly gathering dust in some musty library, what does the future hold for the combatants of motor sports’ most
rarefied arena?
With many teams shuffling their pack and taking stock of affairs, you would expect
that those at the front would have built on their strengths, those trailing further back fortified for the winter ahead and that those dismissed as no-hopers would be
planning a thing or two to upset the apple cart. As always, there have been some
surprises and some non-surprises in the build up to this season. Ride with me on my train of thought as I take you to wondrous lands and tell you of what lies ahead
should you choose to follow the RLB in its 15th avatar of F1 carmageddon. SF
Doug Walker
Often mistake for his twinbrother Dugg, who is now afamous film star with Pixar,Dougisastarinhisownright.AfterchampioningthehumanrightsofthepeopleofEasternNewBassauandhelpinginstalla democratic government, heis now purposeless and hasturned to his other greatpassion;chasing cars.He alsowrites about people chasingone another in cars, ormotorsportsaswehumanscallit.SF
Addicted to Speed
january 2010, Volume 2, F1, Issue 4
[3]
SF: You’ve managed to impress in your first two races at Australia and Sepang and have definitely looked better than your solitary point might suggest. How would you assess your season thus far?
Warren: I think I've performed pretty well so far! Melbourne was an absolute dream debut for me, as I managed to qualify 8th and finish in that same position. Sepang looked to be a promising weekend as well but things didn't work out for me in the race. Like I
said before, nothing is really expected out of me and Williams this season, and in all honesty we aren't where we want to be in the
near future. The car is solid and easy to drive, but it's not one that can regularly mix it with the big guns at the front. But we'll keep going and keep trying for points every race!
SF: Talk to us about Sepang. You made a flying start and then just faded into obscurity. What happened there?
Warren: Yeah it was a fantastic start to the race, and I got myself up from 8th to 3rd. In practice on friday the car felt great in wet conditions, and it felt good again during the race. Unsurprisingly I got bumped down to 5th place after about 6 laps due to much
faster cars, but I genuinely felt like I had a good shot at some points. However on lap 7 I outbraked myself into Turn 1 trying to keep up with Sheasby and Karayi, and I went over a rumble strip and damaged the undertray of my car, and part of the diffuser as
well. The car was good to go, but the lack of fundamental downforce, especially in this weather, made the car an absolute horror to
drive. As a team we decided to stay out and use it as testing session to collect some data, but it was a real disappointing race for me. Poor error on my part.
Q: Some say this might be a make or break season for Williams. Would you agree with that?
Warren: I think the time is coming where we as a team need to start making improvements in all areas. We can't afford to slip any
further behind the teams ahead of us, and of course the teams who are performing similarly to us. Obviously we are on the back foot as it is with a much lower team budget compared to most of the teams, but Williams know how to get the best out of what
they've got, and have a real fighting spirit. But yes, I do think it's fair to say we need to get over the hump and start becoming
regular points scorers sooner rather than later. SF
Nothing is really
expected out of me and
Williams this season, and in all honesty we
aren't where we want to
be in the
Warren has fit right in at Williams
A long-serving member of great
distinction, a driver long hailed as the
next great hope, and a long haired
freak. On the face of it, it makes for a
very unlikely pairing but this troika is
not unfamiliar to any follower of the
RLB. Ferrari are looking strong for
next season and until Red Bull decide
to crash the party it seems like they
will be key combatants for honours.
Many have been quick to say he is
off the peak of his powers, but the
sagacity of age has wisened Liguori
and he is an august racer with much
left in the tank yet. Solfrank is the
femme fatale, the power to Liguori’s
grace and there are few combinations
on the grid that can match these two.
It might be a case of girl interrupted
as Solfrank ended up tied for points
at the summit of the championship
table, but just as Ferrari have had a
chance to regroup so too has its star
driver.
Expect these two to carry on
where they left off, with Liane picking
up more wins than the doughty
Brazilian, but don’t believe for a
moment tha t he i s a s louch .
Historically promising to pack a
wallop yet petering out in a whimper,
of late Ferrari have found their
dancing shoes and can yet waltz their
way to the title. Again.
Prediction: 2nd
V i l i f e d a s v i l l i a n s o f t h e
pantomime piece, it’s (still) all too
fashionable to put on your Ferrari-bashing hat and condemn the Italians
for putting the kibosh on when they did.
But pause a moment to think of the fine gentlemen and sole lady that
fly the Italians flag in F1. Wickham, Liguori and Solfrank have been nothing
but a credit to their profession.
Dominant, almost rampant in the season before, the Scuderia have been
accused by some of throwing their toys out because things weren’t quite as rosy
as they might have expected. But that is
just conjecture and conspiracy theory. The fact is that the nucleus of this
Ferrari team was just as disappointed, if
not more, to have
to put the brakes on. And there is
arguably no one more motivated
to set the record
s t r a i g h t t h a n these guys.
Motivation is one part of t h e
equation to success (don’t ask, it can’t
be revealed). The more important thing is whether they still have the ability and
desire. And the answer would have to be a resounding yes . They are as
financially strong as their immediate
rivals and they have managed to hold on to the very same team that has stood
them in such good stead of late. Consistency is a great thing, and Ferrari
are reaping the rewards of a sustained
period where there is strength and stability throughout the outfit. But by
how much have they been distracted?
Eduardo Liguori may have lost
some of the devastating pace that saw him power to a championship but has
lost none of the canniness that has
served him so well over the years. He may be a mercurial racer of rare and
spasmodic performance, but he is not a spent force. Couple that with Edu’s
well-documented deep affection for
Ferrari and you have a very formidable opponent in one of the two cars.
As if facing up to Liguori weren’t
enough, Ferrari have stuck with one of
the most dominant drivers of almost any RLB era, conjuring visions of
Nogueira. Liane Solfrank is the defending champion for a very good
reason, and some may say she has
inferior machinery at her disposal this
time around but may we remind
you that this car
shares the same genetic code of
t h e c a r t h a t powered Ferrari to
a breakthrough
title. It is the greatest of teams that
have to answer the stiffest of challenges and while they might have only hit a
purple patch recently, there is no
disputing the fact that Ferrari is one of the marquees on this RLB grid. It would
not be a hard sell to get anyone to buy into this Ferrari team, and I do not use
that word lightly. Ferrari of yore has
been known to be a bunch of disjointed, if brilliant, stars. This is more of a team,
with the parts showing a cohesion that is rare and of the pedigree of
champions. For that is what they are,
and don’t you forget that. SF
It was the title defense that never was. Ferrari need to now pick
up where they left off and erase memories of erroneous ways.
“Consistency is a great thing, and Ferrari are reaping the rewards of a sustained period where there is strength and stability in the ranks.”
[4]
SF: You’ve managed to impress in your first two races at Australia and Sepang and have definitely looked better than your solitary point might suggest. How would you assess your season thus far?
Warren: I think I've performed pretty well so far! Melbourne was an absolute dream debut for me, as I managed to qualify 8th and finish in that same position. Sepang looked to be a promising weekend as well but things didn't work out for me in the race. Like I
said before, nothing is really expected out of me and Williams this season, and in all honesty we aren't where we want to be in the
near future. The car is solid and easy to drive, but it's not one that can regularly mix it with the big guns at the front. But we'll keep going and keep trying for points every race!
SF: Talk to us about Sepang. You made a flying start and then just faded into obscurity. What happened there?
Warren: Yeah it was a fantastic start to the race, and I got myself up from 8th to 3rd. In practice on friday the car felt great in wet conditions, and it felt good again during the race. Unsurprisingly I got bumped down to 5th place after about 6 laps due to much
faster cars, but I genuinely felt like I had a good shot at some points. However on lap 7 I outbraked myself into Turn 1 trying to keep up with Sheasby and Karayi, and I went over a rumble strip and damaged the undertray of my car, and part of the diffuser as
well. The car was good to go, but the lack of fundamental downforce, especially in this weather, made the car an absolute horror to
drive. As a team we decided to stay out and use it as testing session to collect some data, but it was a real disappointing race for me. Poor error on my part.
Q: Some say this might be a make or break season for Williams. Would you agree with that?
Warren: I think the time is coming where we as a team need to start making improvements in all areas. We can't afford to slip any
further behind the teams ahead of us, and of course the teams who are performing similarly to us. Obviously we are on the back foot as it is with a much lower team budget compared to most of the teams, but Williams know how to get the best out of what
they've got, and have a real fighting spirit. But yes, I do think it's fair to say we need to get over the hump and start becoming
regular points scorers sooner rather than later. SF
Nothing is really
expected out of me and
Williams this season, and in all honesty we
aren't where we want to
be in the
Warren has fit right in at Williams
Her greatest distinction was
winning a race on her F1 debut,
although she might count outscoring
Preslie Hytes and running Sarah
F i s h e r R a c i n g a s g r e a t e r
achievements. Since then, however,
despite coming close on a number of
instances, Danielle Henson has never
really managed to surmount a
credible title challenge, bringing
many doubters to question whether
she still deserves a place at a top
team. This will be a gilt-edged
chance for her to silence her critics
and carry on where she left off last
season in fine form.
Never much of a dasher, James
Fotheringham has always won
admirers for his commitment in
good times and bad. And last season
definitely counts as a rough patch for
the Briton as he wasn’t just
outscored, but obliterated by his
teammate. He’ll want to set the
record straight and show his worth,
maybe as one final hurrah.
Determined they may be, but it
may not be enough to see them sail
across the finish line. They will have
to raise their performance way above
the usual and not just individually,
but as a team. Can they do it? It’s a
long shot, but they’re capable of it.
It ’s a question of translating
potential into performance.
Prediction: 3rd
How do you describe Red Bull? To
paraphrase something a friend of mine
used to describe me aeons ago, they are the kind of team that's an enigma
wrapped in a riddle kept in a labyrinth with the key thrown away in the dark
recesses of the middle of nowhere.
Nobody can make much sense of them or where they’re headed, or if they’re
headed anywhere at all.
You would have thought that by
now Red Bull’s trials and tribulations would have survived all the afflictions
that come with the sport, that they w o u l d h a v e b e e n s o m e h o w
strengthened by it all. That through the
gloom and doom prophecies they would have found some sort of hope and
humor. You would be right and wrong,
all at once. With a
technical package the envy of most
t e a m s , a n d beyond the very
vivid and lifelike
d a y d r e a m s o f most of them, you
would not be wrong to hope, almost against hope, t h a t
the Milton Keynes based team would
rise to the occasion.But Red Bull is never about
simplicity. Things have just always seemed so muddled with them, and
sorting it all out would involve a near
superhuman effort. And yet, there is a belief that Red Bull could yet walk the
straight and narrow. For hope springs eternal. Things were supposed to
change for the better with the arrival of
Liguori, a champion not that long ago. He fought his battles, but not often on
track, and left quietly not long after.
That he has been a success at Ferrari
simply raises the question again; what is wrong with this current Red Bull
team?
On paper, they have James Fotheringham, one of (if not the) most
w e l l - r o u n d e d a n d s u b s t a n t i a l candidates from those that could have
been chosen. Danielle Henson, well
known for her spats, is actually a racer of no mean calibre once you take away
all the sensation and spectacle she undoubtedly brings to the team. And
yet the only thing on four wheels that
sees more ups and downs is a roller coaster. Which is not that different from
Red Bull, but we digress.
In part, the problems with Red
Bull can be put down to infighting which
has been a large contributor to the
i n c o n s i s t e n t
nature of their p e r f o r m a n c e s .
You’d find more steadiness if you
w e r e p l a y i n g
R u s s i a n R o u l l e t e . Minus the guns, of course. How else
would you explain only one driver (wo)manfully carrying the burden in
any given year.
Over the years, several teams have
stood proud at the top of the pile and for long Red Bull have threatened to
join the few at the pinnacle. But all they
have remained are threats, empty and unfulfilled. Like Linux lovers, this too is
said to be the year of Red Bull. But with every season that ebbs and flows you
must stop and wonder; when will it be
Red Bull’s season? SF
Will they, won’t they, will they? Bulls are known to charge when they see red, but Red Bull doesn’t go on the attack often enough.
“Things have just always seemed so muddled with Red Bull, and sorting it all o u t w o u l d i n v o l v e a superhuman effort. And yet, there is a belief that Red Bull could yet walk the straight and narrow.”
[5]
SF: You’ve managed to impress in your first two races at Australia and Sepang and have definitely looked better than your solitary point might suggest. How would you assess your season thus far?
Warren: I think I've performed pretty well so far! Melbourne was an absolute dream debut for me, as I managed to qualify 8th and finish in that same position. Sepang looked to be a promising weekend as well but things didn't work out for me in the race. Like I
said before, nothing is really expected out of me and Williams this season, and in all honesty we aren't where we want to be in the
near future. The car is solid and easy to drive, but it's not one that can regularly mix it with the big guns at the front. But we'll keep going and keep trying for points every race!
SF: Talk to us about Sepang. You made a flying start and then just faded into obscurity. What happened there?
Warren: Yeah it was a fantastic start to the race, and I got myself up from 8th to 3rd. In practice on friday the car felt great in wet conditions, and it felt good again during the race. Unsurprisingly I got bumped down to 5th place after about 6 laps due to much
faster cars, but I genuinely felt like I had a good shot at some points. However on lap 7 I outbraked myself into Turn 1 trying to keep up with Sheasby and Karayi, and I went over a rumble strip and damaged the undertray of my car, and part of the diffuser as
well. The car was good to go, but the lack of fundamental downforce, especially in this weather, made the car an absolute horror to
drive. As a team we decided to stay out and use it as testing session to collect some data, but it was a real disappointing race for me. Poor error on my part.
Q: Some say this might be a make or break season for Williams. Would you agree with that?
Warren: I think the time is coming where we as a team need to start making improvements in all areas. We can't afford to slip any
further behind the teams ahead of us, and of course the teams who are performing similarly to us. Obviously we are on the back foot as it is with a much lower team budget compared to most of the teams, but Williams know how to get the best out of what
they've got, and have a real fighting spirit. But yes, I do think it's fair to say we need to get over the hump and start becoming
regular points scorers sooner rather than later. SF
Nothing is really
expected out of me and
Williams this season, and in all honesty we
aren't where we want to
be in the
Warren has fit right in at Williams
Michael Adenekan has always
shown a savoir faire, as seen in his
handling and the meteoric rise of
Panther Racing and it would seem
on the face of it that he has pulled
off yet another mini coup. In signing
Donald and Karayi in his first full
season in charge, he has aligned two
drivers of very disparate style. And
the results were there for all too see.
The two new boys rarely
performed well together, but one or
the other of them was always in
contention for a win or loads of
points, fully vindicating Adenekan’s
decision to select them. With
Ferrari’s challenge strong as ever, it
will have to be seen if Brawn can last
the distance of a full season.
There was criticism from several
quarters that Brawn were a bit off
their game last season and that their
performance was a bit unpredictable
but despite that they were still at the
front, the team everyone wanted to
beat. As Ferrari, Red Bull and
McLaren look to step on to the
pedal, Brawn will have to raise their
game to be better than ever. Can they
do it?
Logically, the answer is yes. The
personnel, the machinery, the
financial muscle, it’s all there. But
what is missing is success. And that
can’t be bought by anyone.
Prediction: 1st
It takes a special team to
showcase its best and its worst all in the
span of a single race. Lesser teams take several races to create a Jekyll and Hyde
portfolio, but Brawn has always been quicker than the rest in these and
indeed almost any other matter.
Melbourne. A win for the debutant
from pole. But it was by no more than a thousandth of a second after the KERS
broke on his car, almost costing Karayi
the win. His teammate Donald snared third, but he too suffered KERS issues
and had to settle for third.
Peruse that. Two mechanical
issues for both race cars in the same race and yet, they finish first and third.
I dare you to name me a team that
could have done
likewise. Brawn started out last
s e a s o n a s f a v o r i t e s f o r
many, but they
showed a baffling f l u c t u a t i o n o f
performance you wouldn’t associate with the wizards in
white.
But despite the yoyo-ing and
hemming and hawing, Adenekan’s men still did enough to finish at the top of
the drivers (albeit joint) and were at the
forefront in the constructors as well. The crippling combination of some
dodgy luck and baffling mechanical unreliability might have felled almost
a n y o n e e l s e . B r a w n , h o w e v e r
persevered and what was all the more heartening (for the neutral) is the
manner in which both drivers were in
contention for the title and looking
comfortable with their machinery despite being newcomers to the team.
Smarting from a defeat the previous season, this was a team
determined to rebound in some style and they could well do it this season.
With a manager and two drivers that
are the pick of the field, if not the very best, you would imagine that Brawn has
everything it needs to romp to the title. But nothing is as simple as it seems, and
Brawn will have a very hard task on
their hands with a feisty Ferrari outfit looking to defend their title from
season 13. Add some Red Bull and McLaren to that mix, and you have a
nice little battle on the menu.
Always a strong
t e a m i n t h e i r short existence,
n o n e w o u l d
d i s c o u n t t h e c h a n c e s
Adenekan’s wards have in the season
ahead. Admittedly,
Donald and Karayi have some ways to go yet before they
can equal the heroics of Aurilio and Adenekan himself, but the portents are
good. Bar that one season Donald had at
Red Bull, he has always been a steady and consistent performer at this level
and the mercurial and self-destructive Karayi showed he had lost none of the
pace and erraticism that marked him
out in Indycars. While things seem to be going well for Brawn on and off-track,
historical performance isn’t always an indicator of future performance. The
stars seem to align for them, but will
their luck hold out? SF
Brilliant one moment, banal the next, Brawn are fantastic when
on song but are equally horrific when off-key.
“Brawn started out last season as favorites for many, but they showed a baffling fluctuation of p e r f o r m a n c e y o u wouldn’t associate with the wizards in white.”
[6]
SF: You’ve managed to impress in your first two races at Australia and Sepang and have definitely looked better than your solitary point might suggest. How would you assess your season thus far?
Warren: I think I've performed pretty well so far! Melbourne was an absolute dream debut for me, as I managed to qualify 8th and finish in that same position. Sepang looked to be a promising weekend as well but things didn't work out for me in the race. Like I
said before, nothing is really expected out of me and Williams this season, and in all honesty we aren't where we want to be in the
near future. The car is solid and easy to drive, but it's not one that can regularly mix it with the big guns at the front. But we'll keep going and keep trying for points every race!
SF: Talk to us about Sepang. You made a flying start and then just faded into obscurity. What happened there?
Warren: Yeah it was a fantastic start to the race, and I got myself up from 8th to 3rd. In practice on friday the car felt great in wet conditions, and it felt good again during the race. Unsurprisingly I got bumped down to 5th place after about 6 laps due to much
faster cars, but I genuinely felt like I had a good shot at some points. However on lap 7 I outbraked myself into Turn 1 trying to keep up with Sheasby and Karayi, and I went over a rumble strip and damaged the undertray of my car, and part of the diffuser as
well. The car was good to go, but the lack of fundamental downforce, especially in this weather, made the car an absolute horror to
drive. As a team we decided to stay out and use it as testing session to collect some data, but it was a real disappointing race for me. Poor error on my part.
Q: Some say this might be a make or break season for Williams. Would you agree with that?
Warren: I think the time is coming where we as a team need to start making improvements in all areas. We can't afford to slip any
further behind the teams ahead of us, and of course the teams who are performing similarly to us. Obviously we are on the back foot as it is with a much lower team budget compared to most of the teams, but Williams know how to get the best out of what
they've got, and have a real fighting spirit. But yes, I do think it's fair to say we need to get over the hump and start becoming
regular points scorers sooner rather than later. SF
Nothing is really
expected out of me and
Williams this season, and in all honesty we
aren't where we want to
be in the
Warren has fit right in at Williams
It wasn’t the slightest bit
surprising to see that McLaren stuck
with the same lineup for next
season. Having done surprisingly
well, maybe even punching above
their weight, the bar has been raised
a n d ex p e c t a t i o n s h ave b e e n
heightened for the Silver Arrows.
You can rest assured that
McLaren (and Sheasby in particular)
will throw everything but the kitchen
sink at his opponents from the get
go while Serru will be more
restrained, just looking to finish
races and pick up the pieces as the
others fall by the wayside. But there
is no denying that the car does have
its frailties, and there is a feeling that
McLaren’s (over?)achievements last
season simply papered over some of
the cracks.
As seen last season though,
McLaren wou ld r ea l l y f ancy
themselves to set the cat among the
pigeons. Maybe at some level they
know they aren’t odds on to beat
some o f the i r more f anc i ed
opponents, but that won’t stop them
from getting in their faces and trying
to ruffle a few feathers. Valorous they
may be, but pure bluster alone might
not see them across the finish line.
They need to display quality over the
course of the season, and that will be
their acid test.
Prediction: 4th
If you had told someone at the
onset of last season that McLaren would
be a very real championship contenders in season 14, you would have either got
very good odds on that or have been run out of town as plain barking mad.
Apparently, the idea of McLaren enjoying success is not as much a blast
from the past as some might take it to be. Importantly, while many classed
McLaren as best of the rest material, at
best, the team members always went about their task with a conviction
almost rarely found on most of the grid. Simon Sheasby’s battling qualities and
skill was on display as he took the fight
to the frontrunners, even winning races along the way. Dieter Serru was never as
q u i c k a s h i s teammate but he
a l m o s t a l w a y s
backed him up perfectly when it
c a m e t o t h e crunch, and that
is just one of the
positives McLaren can take into this
upcoming season.
Surprise winners at Malaysia,
McLaren never looked back from that point on and have shown genuine pace
in winter testing as well, perhaps suggesting a return to hallowed days
when they routinely set the benchmark
for other teams to follow. A lot of the credit for this lies at the doorstep of
manager Tom Mullan, under who the team has been revitalised and have
done far better than they have in quite
some time. Season 14 was an eye-opener for many, and McLaren was
most definitely one of its stories.
Sheasby has been at the time since
before the Dinosaurs became extinct, and that means he has a considerable
amount of experience that he can put to
good use. Serru, often underrated and undervalued, is a quiet performer who
puts the points up on the board almost without anyone noticing, quite like a
Ninja. Re-signing these two was a no-
brainer, and Mullan and myriad McLaren fans hope it is a prelude to
success this season.
However, the Woking based team
face a far tougher task this season as Red Bull seem determined to put years
of ineptitude and Ferrari and Brawn will be as always a tough obstacle to
surmount. With 17 races over the
course of a season, it could well be that
McLaren fall back into the clutches
of some of their
r i v a l s a s t h e season progresses.
The onus is on Sheasby and Serru
to keep the tempo
up all season long.
For all the positives he brings to the table, Sheasby has never sealed the
deal when it matters most, deliver the
killer blow, or any other cliche you want to use. His prowess is not in question, it
is his ability to finish off what he starts. Will McLaren see the best of Sheasby?
That remains to be seen, but Simon
should still have enough to lead the line and shine for them. Serru will be solid,
but unspectacular and he is becoming, in this writers opinion, the Makelele of
his team. And that’s not a bad thing. But
is it good enough? SF
Enjoying a revival under Tom Mullan, McLaren were surprise
title contenders last season. Can they do the trick again?
“Apparently, the idea of M c L a r e n e n j o y i n g success is not a blast from the past. McLaren was most definitely one o f t h e b i g s u c c e s s stories of season 14.”
[7]
SF: You’ve managed to impress in your first two races at Australia and Sepang and have definitely looked better than your solitary point might suggest. How would you assess your season thus far?
Warren: I think I've performed pretty well so far! Melbourne was an absolute dream debut for me, as I managed to qualify 8th and finish in that same position. Sepang looked to be a promising weekend as well but things didn't work out for me in the race. Like I
said before, nothing is really expected out of me and Williams this season, and in all honesty we aren't where we want to be in the
near future. The car is solid and easy to drive, but it's not one that can regularly mix it with the big guns at the front. But we'll keep going and keep trying for points every race!
SF: Talk to us about Sepang. You made a flying start and then just faded into obscurity. What happened there?
Warren: Yeah it was a fantastic start to the race, and I got myself up from 8th to 3rd. In practice on friday the car felt great in wet conditions, and it felt good again during the race. Unsurprisingly I got bumped down to 5th place after about 6 laps due to much
faster cars, but I genuinely felt like I had a good shot at some points. However on lap 7 I outbraked myself into Turn 1 trying to keep up with Sheasby and Karayi, and I went over a rumble strip and damaged the undertray of my car, and part of the diffuser as
well. The car was good to go, but the lack of fundamental downforce, especially in this weather, made the car an absolute horror to
drive. As a team we decided to stay out and use it as testing session to collect some data, but it was a real disappointing race for me. Poor error on my part.
Q: Some say this might be a make or break season for Williams. Would you agree with that?
Warren: I think the time is coming where we as a team need to start making improvements in all areas. We can't afford to slip any
further behind the teams ahead of us, and of course the teams who are performing similarly to us. Obviously we are on the back foot as it is with a much lower team budget compared to most of the teams, but Williams know how to get the best out of what
they've got, and have a real fighting spirit. But yes, I do think it's fair to say we need to get over the hump and start becoming
regular points scorers sooner rather than later. SF
Nothing is really
expected out of me and
Williams this season, and in all honesty we
aren't where we want to
be in the
Warren has fit right in at Williams
For a team that has always
invested more than the GDP of a
couple of small nations in their car,
Toyota haven’t really had a lot of
return for their money. Little wonder
then that the Japanese stiffs in their
suits oohed and aahed, but not for
too long before deciding to pull the
plug on this pet project of the
Japanese carmaker.
Where Toyota, or the remnants
of the Toyota team, goes from is
anybody’s guess. But what it means
for the key protagonists of this team
is that they have to dress to impress
any potential suitors. And that would
mean pulling up their socks after a
lacklustre couple of seasons gone by.
Miles and Eyre showed flashes of
their ability, but it was always too
short-lived to enjoy for boss Sam
Johnston. Heads had to roll, and not
in the manner of a ritualistic sacrifice
either.
Miles will have to string together
more of his best if he has to show
the way for the red and whites. Two
point scoring finishes in 7 races is
not the stuff you expect from your
lead driver. KR Raj will be the one to
watch though, not just because of his
relative inexperience, but because
this is his big, big chance. And the
Indian is hungry to prove a point,
which could prove crucial in the end
Prediction: 5th
In some ways, the end has been
nigh, and the end has been anti-
climatic. There wasn’t much fanfare around the announcement when Sam
Johnston said that Toyota as we know it will no longer participate in the RLB FIA
F1 championship. With their future
murky, Toyota could be forgiven for being a bit glum about the uncertainty
of things. But the Japanese team, as much a permanent fixture on the F1
grid as manager Sam Johnston himself,
seem remarkably upbeat despite nearing the end of the line.
Having had mixed fortunes the
season before. Toyota made one change
to the team that commandeered their cars back then. Ash Eyre received the
golden handshake a n d m a d e a
dignified exit. His
r e p l a c e m e n t , surprisingly for
some, was Indian KR Raj, long time
tester for Toyota.
Having done a short stint with the
team some time back, these F1 machines will be no
stranger to KR as he looks to bed into F1
quickly and push on with the small matter of scoring big points.
Martin Miles stays on and will
look to fly the flag for Toyota as their
most experienced driver. The Briton hasn’t set the grid on fire with his
performances but there is ample scope to set that record straight as Toyota
enter the final stretch. Miles has the
added incentive of impressing his potential future employers by bringing
home the bacon for Toyota.
But to do that Miles will have to
fare a lot better than he did in season 14. He might have secured a podium at
Bahrain, but that was one of only two
points finishes for him and he will have to do a whole lot better if Toyota are to
challenge for any sort of honors this season. KR Raj on the other hand is one
of the most doughty customers in the
RLB. I’d go about drawing an analogy between KR and a cockroach, but it
would be so open to misinterpretation that I’d best not.
I will, however, say that KR has had a torrid time in Indycars, lumbered
with one hunk of junk after another and it seemed to be that he was waiting and
waiting for an opportunity that was just
not coming along. And after he announced
h i s i m m i n e n t departure from
Indycars, some
might felt that the talented Indian’s
time in the RLB might have drawn
to an end, but it
was not to be. In the words of Abba, KR silently serenaded
team bosses with his rendition of “Take a chance on me” and Sam Johnston
responded with the offer of a drive. The
rest is history.This may be the beginning of the
end for Toyota, but it is also the beginning of hope for them. The hope
that they put aside the disappointment
of years gone by and finally fire on all cylinders. Miles and KR can certainly do
the business for their Japanese overlords, but will need to come to
grips with the challenge at hand early,
before its too late. SF
Surprisingly listless at times, surprisingly underrated at others. Toyota must make their swan song one to remember.
“The Japanese team, as m u c h a p e r m a n e n t fixture on the F1 grid as manager Sam Johnston himself, seem remarkably upbeat despite nearing the end of the line.”
[8]
SF: You’ve managed to impress in your first two races at Australia and Sepang and have definitely looked better than your solitary point might suggest. How would you assess your season thus far?
Warren: I think I've performed pretty well so far! Melbourne was an absolute dream debut for me, as I managed to qualify 8th and finish in that same position. Sepang looked to be a promising weekend as well but things didn't work out for me in the race. Like I
said before, nothing is really expected out of me and Williams this season, and in all honesty we aren't where we want to be in the
near future. The car is solid and easy to drive, but it's not one that can regularly mix it with the big guns at the front. But we'll keep going and keep trying for points every race!
SF: Talk to us about Sepang. You made a flying start and then just faded into obscurity. What happened there?
Warren: Yeah it was a fantastic start to the race, and I got myself up from 8th to 3rd. In practice on friday the car felt great in wet conditions, and it felt good again during the race. Unsurprisingly I got bumped down to 5th place after about 6 laps due to much
faster cars, but I genuinely felt like I had a good shot at some points. However on lap 7 I outbraked myself into Turn 1 trying to keep up with Sheasby and Karayi, and I went over a rumble strip and damaged the undertray of my car, and part of the diffuser as
well. The car was good to go, but the lack of fundamental downforce, especially in this weather, made the car an absolute horror to
drive. As a team we decided to stay out and use it as testing session to collect some data, but it was a real disappointing race for me. Poor error on my part.
Q: Some say this might be a make or break season for Williams. Would you agree with that?
Warren: I think the time is coming where we as a team need to start making improvements in all areas. We can't afford to slip any
further behind the teams ahead of us, and of course the teams who are performing similarly to us. Obviously we are on the back foot as it is with a much lower team budget compared to most of the teams, but Williams know how to get the best out of what
they've got, and have a real fighting spirit. But yes, I do think it's fair to say we need to get over the hump and start becoming
regular points scorers sooner rather than later. SF
Nothing is really
expected out of me and
Williams this season, and in all honesty we
aren't where we want to
be in the
Warren has fit right in at Williams
With Sam Gordon deciding that
he had enough of F1, the mantle of
team leader falls upon Colin Nixon.
Aged and a veteran he may be, but
he is still more than adept behind
the wheel. The Aussie can still
conjure up visions of his best and
will undoubtedly grab headlines
with a spectacular drive or two. the
problem is that that might not be
enough for BMW who will have to
have to be at their very best if they
are to see off the challenges of their
rivals. Nixon will have to take the
battle to the opposite camp and
while there is no doubting his
capability of doing so, there are
lingering questions about the quality
of his chariot of doom.
Anthony Morgan was one of the
two Kiwi drivers at Renault last
season and they both suffered a
rough time with the French team.
Little surprise then that the Kiwi
chose to migrate as soon as possible
and found shelter with the German
g i an t s. L ike h i s count ryman
Andrews, Morgan was too erratic and
failed to make much of an impact in
the shortened season that went by.
He can certainly improve on his
showing last time around, but it
could be that he has jumped from
the frying pan straight into the fire,
for BMW is no less troubled than
Renault.
Prediction: 7th
If a giant were to be felled in the
woods, would anyone hear the
commotion? More to the point, would anyone care?
People certainly took note when
BMW fell from grace. The German
manufacturer, renowned for their metronomic efficiency and winning
ways (they are, in fact, one of the winningest teams in the RLB) have
suddenly struggled to find the form of
yore. A far cry from the days of glory, you can tell how far BMW have fallen by
virtue of the fact that they were thrilled to finish second at Melbourne last
season. Admittedly, it was Sam Gordon’s
home race and that added to the adrenaline flowing through the veins,
but still, it is no substitute for the
fact that they
would have been disappointed with
second until only some years back.
As always, h o w e v e r, B M W
retains the capacity to lure top drivers to its fold. Nixon
brings with him bags of experience that
is absolutely priceless and his know-how will be vital for BMW to get the
most out of their technical package. A canny customer as always, Nixon will
definitely spring a couple of big results
for BMW at some point or the other. Pairing up with him from across the
Tasman is perennial hope Anthony Morgan. On the face of it, it is not a
spectacular combination chosen by Mo
Elattar, but it could well prove an effective one that grinds out the results
as needed.
Having performed surprisingly
well last season, you’d expect BMW to probably enjoy a similar modicum of
success this time around but it may not
b e a l l s m o o t h s a i l i n g f o r t h e beleaguered greats. Their direct rivals,
such as Renault, Williams and, dare we say it, Toro Rosso, have fortified their
positions over the course of last season
and will be more than capable of launching an assault for mid-table
supremacy this season.
BMW were in superb form last
season, coming out of the blocks really fast and not letting up in the intensity
of their driving. Sam Gordon was a major reason for their excelling, but
with him choosing to depart for the US
of A, Nixon will have to fill the void left by
‘Junior’. Anthony Morgan has been
called up from
Renault to do duty for Elattar and he
w i l l h a v e t h e unenviable task of
keeping Renault,
Toyota and everyone bar the top 4 behind him.
For all their heroics, BMW might
find the challenge they face this season
near insurmountable. With a car that is the knife in a gunfight and drivers that
are very willing workers but not spectacular, you might find that while
the odd results go their way it would be
too much to ask them to finish in the top half of the constructors this time
around. The spirit is admirable and willing, but the machinery is not up to
scratch. Is it a case of Auf Wiedersehen
to the glory days? SF
Somewhere, a giant stirs. BMW Sauber are warning of a return
to form. Is it a credible threat?
“The spirit is admirable and wi l l ing, but the machinery is not up to scratch. Is it a case of Auf Wiedersehen to the glory days?”
[9]
SF: You’ve managed to impress in your first two races at Australia and Sepang and have definitely looked better than your solitary point might suggest. How would you assess your season thus far?
Warren: I think I've performed pretty well so far! Melbourne was an absolute dream debut for me, as I managed to qualify 8th and finish in that same position. Sepang looked to be a promising weekend as well but things didn't work out for me in the race. Like I
said before, nothing is really expected out of me and Williams this season, and in all honesty we aren't where we want to be in the
near future. The car is solid and easy to drive, but it's not one that can regularly mix it with the big guns at the front. But we'll keep going and keep trying for points every race!
SF: Talk to us about Sepang. You made a flying start and then just faded into obscurity. What happened there?
Warren: Yeah it was a fantastic start to the race, and I got myself up from 8th to 3rd. In practice on friday the car felt great in wet conditions, and it felt good again during the race. Unsurprisingly I got bumped down to 5th place after about 6 laps due to much
faster cars, but I genuinely felt like I had a good shot at some points. However on lap 7 I outbraked myself into Turn 1 trying to keep up with Sheasby and Karayi, and I went over a rumble strip and damaged the undertray of my car, and part of the diffuser as
well. The car was good to go, but the lack of fundamental downforce, especially in this weather, made the car an absolute horror to
drive. As a team we decided to stay out and use it as testing session to collect some data, but it was a real disappointing race for me. Poor error on my part.
Q: Some say this might be a make or break season for Williams. Would you agree with that?
Warren: I think the time is coming where we as a team need to start making improvements in all areas. We can't afford to slip any
further behind the teams ahead of us, and of course the teams who are performing similarly to us. Obviously we are on the back foot as it is with a much lower team budget compared to most of the teams, but Williams know how to get the best out of what
they've got, and have a real fighting spirit. But yes, I do think it's fair to say we need to get over the hump and start becoming
regular points scorers sooner rather than later. SF
Nothing is really
expected out of me and
Williams this season, and in all honesty we
aren't where we want to
be in the
Warren has fit right in at Williams
When Ben Warren was signed
by Josh Wood, the vast majority went
‘who?’ The spirited young Briton
responded by scoring points in an
absolute dog of a car at Melbourne.
And that wasn’t the last of him
either. He was consistently in the
reckoning for points and proved to
be a somewhat inspired signing for
Williams. He might not be a world
beater, but Warren knows his
limitations and has shown a great
deal of intelligence in playing to his
strengths instead. There is no clear
team leader at Williams, but if I had
to wager a bet, I’d say Ben is it.
Scott Maser is another feisty
character in that Williams team. They
are an all-British team and they
typify the British Bulldog perfectly.
Maser’s drive at Barcelona belied his
age and showed lot of acumen in a
car that is, quite frankly, lacking in
almost any real quality. However,
winter testing is proving very
promising for Williams and they
could yet turn in a surprise
performance or two.
On paper, it’s not much to look
at. But underestimate Williams at
your own risk. They might not be
much this season, but you get the
sense that this season is a buildup to
seasons ahead. It could all change for
Williams, beginning right here.
Prediction: 8th
Was it really that long ago that
Williams was one of the giants of the F1
world, graced as they were by some big names? How did this little big team lose
their way? And can they return to a semblance of pre-eminence?
In the RLB F1 era, Williams have traditionally been strapped for cash and
have thus been forced to work within the constraints of their financial
limitations. Even as some of the teams
around them are more flush with funds than they are, Williams will hope that
some of the aerodynamic work they’ve done to improve the car will be enough.
They don’t have much to invest in the
team as the season progresses and they will have to just hope that the engineers
have earned their pay cheques with some
sterling work over
the winter.
A l w a y s b a t t l e r s l a s t
season, Williams
will turn to Ben Warren and Scott
Maser to once again drive the car beyond its limits and h o p e
it all just holds together. Team manager
Josh Wood has applied himself to the task at hand in laudable fashion and is a
large part of the reason that Williams will hope to have a chance in the season
to come. Warren and Maser’s work is
cut out for them, and in this current Williams car they have a machine that
will occasionally give up on them but will also from time to time land them
into points scoring positions. The two
youngsters wil l have to acquit themselves to the task at hand very
early.
Struggling to scrape a few points
last season, one of the most notable drives last season for them was when
Maser defended his position like a
cornered Tiger at Barcelona and just refused to let Karayi past him for all of
26 laps. More of such pluck will be needed if Williams are to make inroads.
The car showed signs of being
promising last season, but with the limited facilties at Williams’ disposal,
car development will certainly not be one of their strengths.
Courageous though they are, they will need to up the ante and aim for
more than just a few points this season. As Renault, BMW and Toro Rosso
prepare for an assault to move up the
p e c k i n g o r d e r , Williams’ drivers
m u s t b e aggress ive and
look to outthink
their opponents b e c a u s e
outdriving them w i l l b e v e r y
difficult at this
point in time. In the future, probably. Not right now.
Consistently good off track,
Williams now need to try and set the
Cat among the Pigeons. There is so little to choose between those lower down
the F1 ladder that the advantage might lie in doing something that takes the
others, and maybe even the big guns, by
surprise. Never given much of a chance, Williams as a team have certainly
shown a lot of fight and tried to buck the odds. Warren and Maser are
underrated, but so is Williams. Could
they be the surprise of the season? SF
Graft over craft, more back-breaking than groundbreaking. And yet, Williams keeps on fighting the good fight.
“Always battlers last season, Williams will turn to Ben Warren and Scott Maser to once aga in dr i ve the car beyond its limits”
[10]
SF: You’ve managed to impress in your first two races at Australia and Sepang and have definitely looked better than your solitary point might suggest. How would you assess your season thus far?
Warren: I think I've performed pretty well so far! Melbourne was an absolute dream debut for me, as I managed to qualify 8th and finish in that same position. Sepang looked to be a promising weekend as well but things didn't work out for me in the race. Like I
said before, nothing is really expected out of me and Williams this season, and in all honesty we aren't where we want to be in the
near future. The car is solid and easy to drive, but it's not one that can regularly mix it with the big guns at the front. But we'll keep going and keep trying for points every race!
SF: Talk to us about Sepang. You made a flying start and then just faded into obscurity. What happened there?
Warren: Yeah it was a fantastic start to the race, and I got myself up from 8th to 3rd. In practice on friday the car felt great in wet conditions, and it felt good again during the race. Unsurprisingly I got bumped down to 5th place after about 6 laps due to much
faster cars, but I genuinely felt like I had a good shot at some points. However on lap 7 I outbraked myself into Turn 1 trying to keep up with Sheasby and Karayi, and I went over a rumble strip and damaged the undertray of my car, and part of the diffuser as
well. The car was good to go, but the lack of fundamental downforce, especially in this weather, made the car an absolute horror to
drive. As a team we decided to stay out and use it as testing session to collect some data, but it was a real disappointing race for me. Poor error on my part.
Q: Some say this might be a make or break season for Williams. Would you agree with that?
Warren: I think the time is coming where we as a team need to start making improvements in all areas. We can't afford to slip any
further behind the teams ahead of us, and of course the teams who are performing similarly to us. Obviously we are on the back foot as it is with a much lower team budget compared to most of the teams, but Williams know how to get the best out of what
they've got, and have a real fighting spirit. But yes, I do think it's fair to say we need to get over the hump and start becoming
regular points scorers sooner rather than later. SF
Nothing is really
expected out of me and
Williams this season, and in all honesty we
aren't where we want to
be in the
Warren has fit right in at Williams
If you believed that Samir
Achrifi just walked into the sunset
and was done for as a driver, you’d
be mistaken. If you thought Mike
Aurilio had driven his last race in
Formula 1, you couldn’t be more
wrong. But to think that you’d see
these two together would be a
laughable idea. One that could have
been thought of only in the
diabolical mind of Will Takahashi.
But it could be just what the
doctor ordered. Aurilio and Achrifi
are known to be tested and reliable
performers on the biggest stage of
them all, and after the stop-start
performance last season the last
thing Renault need is unreliability
on track. The question isn’t whether
Achrifi and Aurilio will deliver. The
question is how much.
He ightened expec ta t ions?
Perhaps. But it is only as much as
you’d expect from two of the
standout performers in the RLB F1
era. Between them they’ve scored a
championship, several wins and
podiums, albeit in much better
machinery. How much can they
extract from this aging French
warhorse? Many before them have
come and failed to revive Renault’s
fortunes. But where many have
failed, this Renault team might
succeed only because of the inter-
team rivalry. How ironic.
Prediction: 6th
At the outset, I have to admit it.
This is the team I was waiting to talk
about. Renault have seen more change recently than a vending machine, and it
is most certainly change for the better. Mind you, this is no slight on the
outgoing personnel that worked hard
for the team. It’s just that there just wasn’t enough performance to match
the potential they undoubtedly had.
You might argue that it is a similar
case here. Will Takahashi hasn’t won something since that season where Edu
set the grid alight. Mike Aurilio and Samir Achrifi have given up driving for
a couple of seasons now. Surely you
can’t expect them to come back and just make things alright. Especially when
t h e r e i s t h e undercurrent of a
bitter rivalry as
t h e r e i s w i t h A c h r i f i a n d
A u r i l i o . I t ’ s a powder keg just
waiting to explode
in your face.
But yet, there is so much promise as to make you w a i t
to see what can be accomplished.
Aurilio is a champion of no mean calibre, Achrifi a driver that proved his
mettle against Ferrari, at times doing a lot better than his fancied teammate.
And in Takahashi they have a manager
who will be very driven and will want nothing less than the best that is
possible from his drivers. If any team were to be giantkillers, this will be it.
Yes, they are hamstrung by a lack of any
money to back their ambition. Yes, they will have to drive the wheels off the car.
But would you say they can’t or won’t?
Renault have progressively grown
more comatose ever since Travy D’Souza won them that title way back in
season 3 and they’ve never come even
remotely close to replicating that sort of form every again. It would be
premature (and hugely incorrect) to assume that all of that can be set right
just like that. But Renault have two
drivers in their ranks now that are, potentially amongst the cream of the
field in any respect you can imagine. Eventually, Renault can be revived by
this team. It is only a matter of time.
Will Takahashi is notoriously
stingy when it comes to spending money on improving his team, so it is a
good thing that his team don’t have
much moolah to splash around. Instead,
Ta k a h a s h i h a s always followed a
v e r y s i m p l e
philosophy. Pick the best possible
team you can and trust them to do
what they know
best. The man has a scary knack for getting the best talents
of any given season together, and it seems on the face of it that he has done
it again. Aurilio and Achrifi won’t send
shivers down anyone’s spines, but that is only because they are driving a
Renault. And that is the truth of the matter.
Rest assured, several teams will be vary of what this unit can accomplish.
After years of underachievement, the tide might finally be turning for
Renault. The French are coming, and
you better believe it. SF
An all new team, an all new look, an all new...rivalry? Renault are promising a lot this season. Can the Frenchadians deliver?
“Renault have grown comatose ever since Travy D’Souza won them that title back in season 3. Rest assured, several teams will be vary of what this unit can accomplish.”
[11]
SF: You’ve managed to impress in your first two races at Australia and Sepang and have definitely looked better than your solitary point might suggest. How would you assess your season thus far?
Warren: I think I've performed pretty well so far! Melbourne was an absolute dream debut for me, as I managed to qualify 8th and finish in that same position. Sepang looked to be a promising weekend as well but things didn't work out for me in the race. Like I
said before, nothing is really expected out of me and Williams this season, and in all honesty we aren't where we want to be in the
near future. The car is solid and easy to drive, but it's not one that can regularly mix it with the big guns at the front. But we'll keep going and keep trying for points every race!
SF: Talk to us about Sepang. You made a flying start and then just faded into obscurity. What happened there?
Warren: Yeah it was a fantastic start to the race, and I got myself up from 8th to 3rd. In practice on friday the car felt great in wet conditions, and it felt good again during the race. Unsurprisingly I got bumped down to 5th place after about 6 laps due to much
faster cars, but I genuinely felt like I had a good shot at some points. However on lap 7 I outbraked myself into Turn 1 trying to keep up with Sheasby and Karayi, and I went over a rumble strip and damaged the undertray of my car, and part of the diffuser as
well. The car was good to go, but the lack of fundamental downforce, especially in this weather, made the car an absolute horror to
drive. As a team we decided to stay out and use it as testing session to collect some data, but it was a real disappointing race for me. Poor error on my part.
Q: Some say this might be a make or break season for Williams. Would you agree with that?
Warren: I think the time is coming where we as a team need to start making improvements in all areas. We can't afford to slip any
further behind the teams ahead of us, and of course the teams who are performing similarly to us. Obviously we are on the back foot as it is with a much lower team budget compared to most of the teams, but Williams know how to get the best out of what
they've got, and have a real fighting spirit. But yes, I do think it's fair to say we need to get over the hump and start becoming
regular points scorers sooner rather than later. SF
Nothing is really
expected out of me and
Williams this season, and in all honesty we
aren't where we want to
be in the
Warren has fit right in at Williams
Opposites attract, they say. That
would certainly seem to be the case
with Toro Rosso’s capitans. Randall
Ruggles has a couple of bagfuls of
experience lying around while Scott
Biggs is just to wet his feet in
Formula 1 after making the commute
from across the pond to carry on
with his career.
Ruggles and Biggs’ task is cut
out for them. Given a car that is
barely even mediocre, funds that are
barely enough and upgrades that just
barely fit the bill, they will have one
hell of a job piloting this car to any
sort of decent results, especially in a
season that promises to be so much
more competitive this time around.
Biggs and Ruggles are no
strangers to F1, having partnered
each other for a season at Panther.
Eventually, both were found wanting
and moved on from Indycars, their
futures up in the air. Little did they
know that Scottybear Moore would
bring them together again with his
Toro Rosso experiment.
But with a car that will clearly
struggle, how much can you expect
of these two? Even with the wet
weather, they only stand so much of
a chance to score points. Rosso fans
will celebrate just about any points
that come their way, and that might
well be all that they get to shout
about.
Prediction: 9th
Although I must admit I don’t get
this whole analogy about felines and
not winning races, it does leave Scott Moore in a pickle. Having received an
overwhelming mandate to run the team we know as Toro Rosso, he now faces up
to the predicament of having to win a
race with this little team that is the poor cousin of the Red Bull outfit.
Of the managers that preceded
him, Mullan and Wickham managed to
bag victories and can therefore avoid being egged in public. Caamen Soukup
had no such luck and thus fled to the United States before he was humiliated
for not winning with the Rosso. How
much better then will Moore fare, having inherited the DNA of the same
team that celebrated points finishes like
it was a major win
and wins like they w e r e
championships?
T o u s e a
theory a Professor o f m i n e o n c e
professed, Toro Rosso will follow the ‘Theory of Small Wins.’
Essentially, this dictates that even the
most miniscule of victories will be celebrated to create a sense of
accomplishment and togetherness, which in turn eggs the team on to
achieve even more so as to receive more
commendation. Rinse and repeat.
Moore’s driver choices fit in perfectly with this dictum then. Biggs
and Ruggles aren’t the most decorated
of drivers, but they are game triers and will do everything they can to cause an
upset or two.
Biggs’ is a curious case. He started
o u t we l l e n o u g h w i t h M i ch a e l Adenekan’s Panther Racing team, he
lost his way a bit after that. Eventually
sacked from the team, it seemed that he would be doomed to roam in the RLB
wilderness for a while before Scott Moore came along and decided to take
him along on an F1 adventure. It will be
interesting to see how Biggs acquits himself to Formula1, having driven
primarily in the US for most of racing career, butt driving for one of the
backmarkers as a newbie means there is
no pressure on him. Perhaps this is a boon as the pressure at Panther to get
results began to show on his results and it was best that Biggs left for a fresh
challenge. And Formula 1 may be just
that.
Randall Ruggles, besides having the
most smashing
name in the RLB, has had a long run
in F1 and this experience will
stand in good stead
for Toro Rosso as he sets about trying to keep the minnows
from going down under. Toro Rosso have a strong points scoring record for
a car as inept as theirs, and Ruggles
could be vital to unlocking its potential with his knowhow. With the car known
to be monster in the wet, Ruggles and Biggs will be hoping that the rain gods
relent or that they get a slice of luck.
Which leaves the small matter of getting a win, which we’ll leave to
Moore and company to figure out. After all, what better for the self-proclaimed
‘comeback king’ than to inspire a
comeback to beat all comebacks. SF
They say that the Toro Rosso manager that leaves the team
without having won a race is a cat. Or something like that.
“Moore has inherited the DNA of the same team that celebrated points like they were major wins and wins like they were championships. How will Moore fare?”
[12]
SF: You’ve managed to impress in your first two races at Australia and Sepang and have definitely looked better than your solitary point might suggest. How would you assess your season thus far?
Warren: I think I've performed pretty well so far! Melbourne was an absolute dream debut for me, as I managed to qualify 8th and finish in that same position. Sepang looked to be a promising weekend as well but things didn't work out for me in the race. Like I
said before, nothing is really expected out of me and Williams this season, and in all honesty we aren't where we want to be in the
near future. The car is solid and easy to drive, but it's not one that can regularly mix it with the big guns at the front. But we'll keep going and keep trying for points every race!
SF: Talk to us about Sepang. You made a flying start and then just faded into obscurity. What happened there?
Warren: Yeah it was a fantastic start to the race, and I got myself up from 8th to 3rd. In practice on friday the car felt great in wet conditions, and it felt good again during the race. Unsurprisingly I got bumped down to 5th place after about 6 laps due to much
faster cars, but I genuinely felt like I had a good shot at some points. However on lap 7 I outbraked myself into Turn 1 trying to keep up with Sheasby and Karayi, and I went over a rumble strip and damaged the undertray of my car, and part of the diffuser as
well. The car was good to go, but the lack of fundamental downforce, especially in this weather, made the car an absolute horror to
drive. As a team we decided to stay out and use it as testing session to collect some data, but it was a real disappointing race for me. Poor error on my part.
Q: Some say this might be a make or break season for Williams. Would you agree with that?
Warren: I think the time is coming where we as a team need to start making improvements in all areas. We can't afford to slip any
further behind the teams ahead of us, and of course the teams who are performing similarly to us. Obviously we are on the back foot as it is with a much lower team budget compared to most of the teams, but Williams know how to get the best out of what
they've got, and have a real fighting spirit. But yes, I do think it's fair to say we need to get over the hump and start becoming
regular points scorers sooner rather than later. SF
Nothing is really
expected out of me and
Williams this season, and in all honesty we
aren't where we want to
be in the
Warren has fit right in at Williams
While Bean and Kay are drivers
rated highly by managers up and
down the grid, to expect them to
rattle up points aplenty would be a
minor miracle. Think of anything
impossible, almost anything, and I
assure it would seem easier than the
prospect of driving this Force India.
While you might cringe inwardly
and call this harsh criticism, deep
down you know that there is more
than a grain of truth to this
statement.
Which is not to say that Bean
and Kay are not up to scratch. It is
just that they have to make do with a
grid of drivers better equipped than
they are to deal with the challenges
that lie ahead. But they knew fully
well that this would be no walk in
the park when they signed on the
dotted line, so they definitely believe
that Force India’s is not entirely a
lost cause.
With nothing to lose and only
pride to play for, expect Force India
to put in a few performances worthy
of note, a la Valtonen at Silverstone
in Season 13. To expect more than
that would be unfair on a team that
is trying to break free and make a
name for themselves. The only team
to remain pointless last season goes
into this season knowing they can
break their duck, but that to expect a
lot is to brace for disappointment.
Prediction: 10th
The puns come think and fast.
Farce India. A spent Force. This Force
won’t be with you. In short, they are one of the butt of jokes on the grid.
Barring that one season from Ville Valtonen that seems so long ago, Force
I n d i a h a v e n e v e r r e a l l y b e e n
competitive and even looked like moving ahead. Sure, they’ve had their
moments. But they’ve been so few and far between they make Blue moons look
like clockwork.
Valter Ferreira has the reins of the
team and keeps hold of Ian Kay and brings in Aaron Bean to replace Ville
Valtonen. Highly-rated, Aaron made
waves during his stint with Newman Haas but didn’t do
e n o u g h t o convince Karan
Karayi to make
t h e d e a l permanent. On
the lookout for a replacement for
Valtonen after the
Finn chose to head off to Indycars, Bean fitted
the bill perfectly and Valter has been quick to tie Aaron down for the
foreseeable future. Many say that Aaron
has an impossible task ahead of him, but the newcomer is as yet unfazed and
believes he can get results with his new team. Time will tell just how much
b r a v a d o f u e l s y o u n g A a r o n ’ s
confidence.
His teammate Kay is no stranger to his environs, this being his second
with the outfit if you count the
abandoned season 14 as the scene of his debut.
Kay has been undoubtedly
impressive in his time with Panther Racing, but just how well will he adapt
to F1, even with half a season of
experience under his belt? He struggled to get any points at all in his short stint
so far and the indications so far is that it will be just as much an uphill struggle
for him to make an impact as ever. With
resources scant and the car short on firepower, it will be hard for team Force
India to break through and get noticed this season.
The commitment of Ferreira, Kay and Bean to the cause seems complete,
but commitment by itself won’t get you anywhere in the cut-throat world of F1.
With competitors
boasting better c a r s , d e e p e r
p o c k e t s a n d drivers as good if
not better, Force
India might find that things get a
lot worse for them before it gets a lot
better, or any better at all.
The protagonists of this tale all
have interesting subplots. Ferreira wants to redeem himself after the
furore that surrounded him a couple of
seasons ago. Kay wants to establish him as a frontline driver and a top talent
while Bean simply wants to go out and feels he has a point to prove. In all, it
seems that Force India has the
ingredients needed to make a success story but fact is more compelling than
fiction. And the fact is that Force India will struggle to get almost anything out
of an unforgiving season. SF
It is not the size of the dog, or the size of the fight in the dog, but the size of its jaws that matter. How much of a bite does Force India pack?
“Sure, Force India have had their moments. But they’ve been so few and far between they make Blue moons look like clockwork.”