Who would have believed at this point in the season the top 3 manufacturers would be Renault, Toyota, and Red Bull? I'm sure Ferrari will find it's legs, but it may be too late to matter. This is just what F1 needed.

 

Couldn't agree more. Some of these teams have been testing their asses off, and it is showing. Gotta love the Red Bull team.

 

Agreed.

But to quote Schuey, this season will by far be the longest F1 season.
Two races are over but there's still 17 left - and that's a full season in itself just a couple of years ago.

So after two races, he's still *only* 14 points behind Alonso, in first place.

That can easily be caught up after just two races....don't forget that the scoring diff. between first and second place is now two points whereas it used to be four.

(For what's worth, I'm by no means a Ferrari fan....far from it actually...)

With so much uncertainly due to the new regulations, anything is possible.

 

Ok,

I'm a Ferrari fan, but I still think this is exactly what was needed. Looks like the Bridgestone tires are killing them, which means the new 2005 car will still be mid pack. Too many teams are with Michelin, their just the better tire now. Next year any bets on who Ferrari's with?

 

Speaking of the new regulations, I have some random thoughts:

- I absolutely LOVE the fact that the smaller budget teams (Toyota, Red Bull) are the ones who've made an immediate impact;

- So far, the surprising result is exactly what the sport needed;

- That being said, I'm not so sure if this (new tyre regulations) will better the sport in terms of technical advancement.......

- .....or if it will just be a Championship season to be determined by the r&d of tyre manufacturers;

- because of the above, and also due to the new engine rules, the new "Theme" of F1 today seems to be about "Preservation" of engines and tyres.

- Maybe that's what the sport needs. In the very near future, this sport will struggle to maintain eight teams, let alone the ten it has today. So the engine preservation will most definitely ease the incredible $$$$ engine manufacturers spent to introduce cutting edge technology every year.

 

WTF happened to Honda? Both engines blew within minutes of each other!

 

Not being picky, but i wouldn't call Toyota a low budget team.

Just an observation, apart from Toyota's involvement in the NASCAR truck series, isn't it interesting to compare the current fortunes of the manufacturers within F1 and NASCAR.

If only NASCAR would move into the 21st century and learn how to make a right turn!

 

According to their website, both failures were caused by oil fires.

http://www.barhondaf1.com/en/index.p...em=1056&type=1

 

Well, I kinda agree with you...that Toyota is not quite a low budget team.
Although I don't have exact numbers, I remember reading a year ago somewhere that their annual expenditures is like 60% of that of McLaren & Ferrari, so that's small by comparison.

 

You are right, and that is why in a few years Toyota will be the largest and most profitable car company in the world, not that i am a great fan of their cars!

 

No worries, mate - Schuey is a brilliant tactician. He will come up with a great race strategy real soon.

But as far as who will Ferrari team with next year on tyres, it's still too early to tell - after all, 12 months is an eternity in F1 lingo..

 

agreed!

 

Yeah WTF WTF!!! I don't get it. Jenny's engine when BIG TIME! The new engine rule has them all F'D up it seems. Seems like it shows how on edge the engine was to begin with. Maybe next race will have lower ambient temps

 

i heard during a broadcast last year that they had the biggest budget by a few million. not sure though. i am sure that ferrari will come into there own, they seem to be dissadvantaged though as they run bridgestones, and they are assumably the inferior of the two. everything seems to be working well for Renault, and i am excited to see how we continue to pan out.

for the haters- dont trash ferrari yet, i am positive that they will be there when it counts.

 

I thought both Honda engines were new for that race...