2009 F1 Championship Predictions

[dp35]

Before the 1st official practice session of the year, let's have some predictions of who will win the 2009 F1 driver's championship, as well as who will finish 2nd, 3rd, etc.  

(If you want to disucss who will win this weekends race in Australia, see this thread: http://forum.atomclub.com/index.php/topic,8986.0.html)

Bonus question - last year there were several first time GP winners.  If there will be any first time winners this year, who will it be? (candidates: Heidfeld, Rosberg, Webber, Bordais, Buemi, Glock, Piquet, Nakajima, Sutil)

My picks -
Championship:
1. Raikonnen
2. Massa
3. Hamilton

First time winner:  Heidfeld

[DFext37 Fielding]

1st, Massa
2nd, Kubica
3rd, Ham Sandwich

First Podium / win, Brawn Gp, Force India, Sebastien Bourdais and Nakajima.

[fiestycolumbian]

Championship
1-Raikonnen
2-Kubica
3-Button

1st time winner- Rosberg

I think this years championship will reward smooth consistent drivers. With 50% less donwforce, drivers who look after their tires will succeed the best.

I also think that the the variables in this year championship far exceed any championship that proceeds it:
1. KERS relaibility
2. The ability to keep the low and wide front wing on, either in contact with curbs, offs, or other cars
3. More crashes because of the aero rules
4. Reset of the established order

fiesty

[jon b]

which are the best F1 web sites for the latest news?

[DFext37 Fielding]

crash.net by far best for any motorsport

yahooeurosport.com i think is also good.

[dp35]

[quote="jon b"]
which are the best F1 web sites for the latest news?
[/quote]

A couple I like:

http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/index.shtml

http://www.autosport.com/f1/

[jon b]

Formula 1 is so evocative

For those outside of the UK, Formula 1 is coming back to the BBC for the first time in 13 years.  All of those that followed the sport back then will remember the introduction music - The Chain by Fleetwood Mac.

It is probably as perfect a match of music and high adrenalin motorsport that you can get!!!!!!! -  just hearing the riff - makes the hairs on my neck stand up and puts a lump in my throat as i imagine these 900bhp motors going past at 200+mph......

They are due to launch their coverage with The Chain again but in the meantime, here's some compilations by others 

Go to HQ - turn the volume up - then forward to 3:00 minutes 



Then watch it again from the start 


Then watch this version

[Trigger]

It amazes me just how excited I get just by hearing that music again eventhough its not been part of F1 for 13 years !!!! I suppose the glory days of F1 were the Senna, Prost, Mansell and then Hill days for me so it was all BBC.

Cant wait for the weekend.

[DFext37 Fielding]

people on youtube have poted full races from the early 70's till now.

[Alec]

Championship
1 - Button
2 - Hamilton
3 - Massa

1st time winner - Rosberg

[DFext37 Fielding]

Hamilton

''the car is crap, i might quit''

5 minutes later

''i wont quit, i will try and make the car right''.

[benyeats]

[quote="Trigger"]
It amazes me just how excited I get just by hearing that music again eventhough its not been part of F1 for 13 years !!!! I suppose the glory days of F1 were the Senna, Prost, Mansell and then Hill days for me so it was all BBC.

Cant wait for the weekend.
[/quote]

In case it has passed everyone by, which given the lack of BBC publicity it probably has, but if you press the red button they have been showing a loop of classic Australian GPs for the last few days.  I have watched it twice so far.

[quote="Dext37 Fielding"]
Hamilton

''the car is crap, i might quit''

5 minutes later

''i wont quit, i will try and make the car right''.
[/quote]

Or quote from Hamilton taken out of context by media, one of those two.

Ben

[DFext37 Fielding]

1996 GP Melbourne probably the best.

[AtomFun]

Yawn! I'm already looking forward to my uninterrupted Sunday snooze

[DFext37 Fielding]

MotoGP next week.

Thankfully i will wathcing it on Eurosport, as the Beeb coverage is crap.