f1 2013... the future
question 1
Which rookie driver is your 'one to watch'?
@hedgeryhoops : Max Chilton. Another young British driver! Although we won't be able to see much of the potential in a Marussia (whatever their future may be!). The more British drivers the merrier for me!
@MarussiaF1Will : Max Chilton, he will do very well at Marussia this year, in an improving MR02.
@EmTheEmu: #BOTTAS. His racing record in the lower formulae looks good, and it'll be interesting to see if he can live up to the hype that comes with having your own Twitter hashtag!
@jo_johnson63 : I always look forward to seeing how rookie drivers do in their 1st F1 season but I am interested to see how Valterri Bottas does compared to Bruno Senna. Unlike most rookies he hasn't come from GP2 so I haven't actually see him race but has been very successful in the formulas he has previously raced in. He has a very strong team mate in Pastor Maldonado (if he keeps his head). I hope Bruno does get a drive next season and is given the chance to settle in with a team for a few years but sadly the pace of F1 doesn't allow for this.
@DarshanChokhani : Bottas seems the one to watch out for. He did pretty well last year in the limited running he got. The Williams car was also pretty strong and so he is my pick to look for in 2013.
@NigelBeechey : Max Chilton for me. He comes from a racing background. Is fairly local but a Brit more importantly, he could be interesting to watch.
@hedgeryhoops : Max Chilton. Another young British driver! Although we won't be able to see much of the potential in a Marussia (whatever their future may be!). The more British drivers the merrier for me!
@MarussiaF1Will : Max Chilton, he will do very well at Marussia this year, in an improving MR02.
@EmTheEmu: #BOTTAS. His racing record in the lower formulae looks good, and it'll be interesting to see if he can live up to the hype that comes with having your own Twitter hashtag!
@jo_johnson63 : I always look forward to seeing how rookie drivers do in their 1st F1 season but I am interested to see how Valterri Bottas does compared to Bruno Senna. Unlike most rookies he hasn't come from GP2 so I haven't actually see him race but has been very successful in the formulas he has previously raced in. He has a very strong team mate in Pastor Maldonado (if he keeps his head). I hope Bruno does get a drive next season and is given the chance to settle in with a team for a few years but sadly the pace of F1 doesn't allow for this.
@DarshanChokhani : Bottas seems the one to watch out for. He did pretty well last year in the limited running he got. The Williams car was also pretty strong and so he is my pick to look for in 2013.
@NigelBeechey : Max Chilton for me. He comes from a racing background. Is fairly local but a Brit more importantly, he could be interesting to watch.
question 2
Which NEW team mate pairing do you think will be the most effective?
@hedgeryhoops : Effective, a careful choice of word! Based on pre-season talk, I would say Hamilton/Rosberg, as it seems Hamilton will be the number one driver. It was a close call between the Mercedes drivers and Button/Perez, but apparently they're going to have equal standing at McLaren!
@MarussiaF1Will : Hulkenberg and Gutierrez will do well together next year, good blend of experience and youth. I think Gutierrez might not do as well on the circuits he doesn't know, but once he's on a circuit he knows, he'll do well.
@EmTheEmu: I think Button and Perez will do very well, provided that Perez and McLaren don't make too many mistakes. Having 2 drivers that have a smooth style should help the team to develop a car they can both get the best out of.
@jo_johnson63 : Purely because of the car they are likely to have, I would say Jenson Button and Sergio Perez. We saw flashes of what Sergio is capable of last season and like Jenson he is superb at tyre management which goes some way to getting the points with these Pirelli tyres.
@DarshanChokhani : If we talk about whole new pairing then it is Hulk & Gutierrez who might be the most effective with the car they have in hand. The other brand new pairing will be at Marussia, have to wait for that one. And in general the new pairings in McLaren & Mercedes should be most effective. Have to wait for Force India, Caterham now to see who gets in.
@NigelBeechey : A bit biased here but Lewis and Nico for me. I think they'll get along well. They seem to have chemistry. Good luck to them and to Mercedes AMG F1:)
@hedgeryhoops : Effective, a careful choice of word! Based on pre-season talk, I would say Hamilton/Rosberg, as it seems Hamilton will be the number one driver. It was a close call between the Mercedes drivers and Button/Perez, but apparently they're going to have equal standing at McLaren!
@MarussiaF1Will : Hulkenberg and Gutierrez will do well together next year, good blend of experience and youth. I think Gutierrez might not do as well on the circuits he doesn't know, but once he's on a circuit he knows, he'll do well.
@EmTheEmu: I think Button and Perez will do very well, provided that Perez and McLaren don't make too many mistakes. Having 2 drivers that have a smooth style should help the team to develop a car they can both get the best out of.
@jo_johnson63 : Purely because of the car they are likely to have, I would say Jenson Button and Sergio Perez. We saw flashes of what Sergio is capable of last season and like Jenson he is superb at tyre management which goes some way to getting the points with these Pirelli tyres.
@DarshanChokhani : If we talk about whole new pairing then it is Hulk & Gutierrez who might be the most effective with the car they have in hand. The other brand new pairing will be at Marussia, have to wait for that one. And in general the new pairings in McLaren & Mercedes should be most effective. Have to wait for Force India, Caterham now to see who gets in.
@NigelBeechey : A bit biased here but Lewis and Nico for me. I think they'll get along well. They seem to have chemistry. Good luck to them and to Mercedes AMG F1:)
question 3
Which team do you think will make the biggest improvement on their 2012 performance?
@hedgeryhoops : Surely it's going to be Mercedes this year isn't it? For the vast majority of 2012 they were an average midfield team due to their tyre issues, they really need to get at least 4th in the WCC for 2013.
@MarussiaF1Will : Marussia, introduction of KERS to a very good MR01, technical department looking strong, MR02 has the potential to be Marussia's best car yet.
@EmTheEmu: Ferrari may become a lot better now that they're using Toyota's old wind tunnel, I wouldn't be surprised if they're quick from the start of this season.
@jo_johnson63 : I hope that Mercedes will do better than 5th in the WCC next year with Lewis Hamilton in the team. I doubt they can beat the top three teams but hopefully can go up to 4th place. I also have a soft spot for Marussia and hope they have better succes with Max Chilton and whoever else they sign.
@DarshanChokhani : I feel it should be Force India, not that I am their fan but I feel that they gonna step it up this time around. They were pretty consistent last year without much of upgrades as they shifted focus to 2013. So, it is going to be interesting to see how they perform.
@NigelBeechey : I'm sticking with Mercedes AMG F1 for this one too. It is definately an unknown at this stage but I reckon they're a dark horse!!
@hedgeryhoops : Surely it's going to be Mercedes this year isn't it? For the vast majority of 2012 they were an average midfield team due to their tyre issues, they really need to get at least 4th in the WCC for 2013.
@MarussiaF1Will : Marussia, introduction of KERS to a very good MR01, technical department looking strong, MR02 has the potential to be Marussia's best car yet.
@EmTheEmu: Ferrari may become a lot better now that they're using Toyota's old wind tunnel, I wouldn't be surprised if they're quick from the start of this season.
@jo_johnson63 : I hope that Mercedes will do better than 5th in the WCC next year with Lewis Hamilton in the team. I doubt they can beat the top three teams but hopefully can go up to 4th place. I also have a soft spot for Marussia and hope they have better succes with Max Chilton and whoever else they sign.
@DarshanChokhani : I feel it should be Force India, not that I am their fan but I feel that they gonna step it up this time around. They were pretty consistent last year without much of upgrades as they shifted focus to 2013. So, it is going to be interesting to see how they perform.
@NigelBeechey : I'm sticking with Mercedes AMG F1 for this one too. It is definately an unknown at this stage but I reckon they're a dark horse!!
bonus question
Who will win the WDC and WCC Titles in 2013?
@hedgeryhoops : Vettel. I'm sure the McLaren will be quick but again they will take points off each other, while Vettel will always get preferential status at Red Bull. WCC - McLaren. Should have the quickest car, and Webber won;t score enough points to keep the Red Bulls in front. I hope.
@MarussiaF1Will : WDC - Fernando Alonso WCC - Ferrari.
@EmTheEmu: If McLaren can pull it together this year, then Jenson Button for WDC. But reckon it'll still be Red Bull to win the constructors championship.
@jo_johnson63 : I am going to be predictable and say RBR Racing for WCC but as for the WDC I'm going to stick my neck out and say Kimi Raikkonen.
@DarshanChokhani : Pretty long shot but I'll go for Vettel & Red Bull once again. Unless Alonso & Ferrari can step it up. Dark horses will be Kimi, Button.
@NigelBeechey : I'll go with Alonso for the WDC but reluctantly, Red Bull for the WCC.
@hedgeryhoops : Vettel. I'm sure the McLaren will be quick but again they will take points off each other, while Vettel will always get preferential status at Red Bull. WCC - McLaren. Should have the quickest car, and Webber won;t score enough points to keep the Red Bulls in front. I hope.
@MarussiaF1Will : WDC - Fernando Alonso WCC - Ferrari.
@EmTheEmu: If McLaren can pull it together this year, then Jenson Button for WDC. But reckon it'll still be Red Bull to win the constructors championship.
@jo_johnson63 : I am going to be predictable and say RBR Racing for WCC but as for the WDC I'm going to stick my neck out and say Kimi Raikkonen.
@DarshanChokhani : Pretty long shot but I'll go for Vettel & Red Bull once again. Unless Alonso & Ferrari can step it up. Dark horses will be Kimi, Button.
@NigelBeechey : I'll go with Alonso for the WDC but reluctantly, Red Bull for the WCC.