Blatman Posted October 25, 2004 Posted October 25, 2004 BlattersFollowing the Brazilian GP, do you still think Button has more chance at BAR? It'll be a wasted year Yes, I do. One engine failure in the final race of 04 will have zero bearing on anything that happens in 05. Besides, they've had a lot of practice at getting the engine right thanks to Taku san. Button has had good reliability for quite a while. It was just Buttons turn for some poor luck... I think it worthy of note that even with a fire on the grid, and lack of power (as he said when talking to Louise Bangles), he was still making passes on lap two, one of them was a double pass on one turn during lap 2, IIRC. He can drive, so I'm not counting him out just yet... Quote
Fat Albert Posted October 25, 2004 Posted October 25, 2004 Blats Engine failures smengine failures, my point is simple Williams started this year with a 10th place car which, by the end of the season was a race winner. BAR started the year with a 3rd/4th place car which they managed to keep a 3rd/4th place car, despite a five year track record of starting with uncompetitive cars and making them worse. If Webber is world champion next year (which could happen), do you think he'll let JB join? Jon Honda could, just as easily, pull the plug on BAR, just as they did in the past to Williams and Jordan. Quote
Blatman Posted October 25, 2004 Posted October 25, 2004 My money will be on MS for World Champ next year. If MS doesn't produce the goods (or retires), then it'll be close between Monty, Kimi, and Jenson. The patriot in me says Jenson.... I don't think Webber will necessarilly enjoy the atmosphere at Williams, although the last Aussie to drive for Sir Frank was World Champ, so who knows? Regardless, Williams have 2 new drivers for next year, which has traditionally never been good news for car developement or early eason performance. The McLaren just isn't fast enough, but the BAR is, and has stayed consistent. I can't believe they'll be going backwards, especially with Honda on board. Quote
jeff oakley Posted October 25, 2004 Posted October 25, 2004 I am glad Button is staying put but very sad for Davidson. Coulthard is a spent force and should go quietly. The key to all this is for next year is the complete team, not just the driver, and Ferrari are the complete team. Yes Williams have made progress this season and yes BAR have been transformed into a top team, but, they both lack the ingrediants to be a WInning package. Every year it is less about the driver and more the technical boys. Ferrari have Bridgestone who do their bidding before anyone else gets alook in, they have arguably the top technical partners Shell, SKF etc and undoubtedly they have the top tactician Ross Brawn. He has pulled many wins out of the hat by the strategy he has played out before and during the race. MS is the best driver but he is not unbeatable the team he has around him constantly give him the goods. WIlliams, Mclaren etc do not have the same record of supporting their drivers. I hope JB does get from BAR next year a winning package But as Albert says they have sustained a performance advantage they have not really improved it to a high enough level. Quote
Blatman Posted October 25, 2004 Posted October 25, 2004 they have sustained a performance advantage they have not really improved it to a high enough level. But for Ferrari, Button would be World Champ, and BAR constructors champs. Renault (Not Williams) woud be second in both as Alonso placed 4th behind Button. Williams would be third. BAR were less than close to this last year. How much "improvement to a higher level" has been missed out on, do you think? Quote
jeff oakley Posted October 26, 2004 Posted October 26, 2004 The point I was making Blatters is that even though Ferrari were in front they still kept developing the package throughout the year. BAR have deservedly come second way ahead of the rest but, they were vastly improved at the start of the season and got better until mid way when the progress in performance did not grow any more, whilst Mclaren and Williams started to up the pace. If it wasn't for Ferrari yes Button would be Champion, but Ferrari stay in front because they are relentless in the pursuit of that extra tenth here and there. I hope BAR can take it to Ferrari next year and give Button the package he needs to beat them, that package includes the car, motor, tactichians, tyres and crew to rival Ferrari. Quote
Blatman Posted October 27, 2004 Posted October 27, 2004 Ferrari stay in front because they have a limitless budget... Mclaren and Williams had cars so slow that it was inevitable that they would continue to improve until the last race. They're playing catch up, and they *still* haven't caught up yet. BAR didn't have to show ALL their imrpovements to stay ahead. I wonder how much they have in reserve for 2005? Dave Richards is no fool remember... Quote
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