2009 F1 predictions

[Kooper]

I know that the 2008 season only just finished up, and I know this thread has been created by what would be regarded by conventional wisdom as "way too early", but I was bored at the time.

Purpose of thread? Simple.

Place what you think awaits in 2009, specifically in F1. We dig this thread up again in 12 months' time and either stand in awe of some members' Nostradamus powers and/ or other members' complete lack thereof.

I'll go first:


1) Heidfeld continues on with BMW, who in turn continue to slowly but surely catch up with McLaren and Ferrari. Heidfeld has his moments of brilliance, but continues to fade. Kubica turns out to be one of the contenders for the ultimate gold. He announces his move to Ferrari at the end of the season. BMW announces the signing of Piquet and Rosberg at the end of the season.

2) Raikonnen soldiers on at Ferrari, but struggles to regain his lost form. He announces his retirement at the end of the season, presumably to focus more on partying like there's no tomorrow. Massa vows to make up for the lost championship of 2008 by obliterating his opponents in 2009. His promise holds some weight, but he's weighed down by continued car problems.

3) Dennis' golden boy Hamilton enjoys bathing in championship glory. Sadly, the glory goes to his head and weighs down his car. He does not mind though, Nicole Scherzinger is there to stroke away the pain. Heiki fails to impress. Is it his lack of talent, or Dennis' lack of enthusiasm of seeing his protege upstaged?

4) Alonso is running at the front of the pack every other weekend thanks to a resurgent Renault effort. He announces that he's not going anywhere, opting to stay at Renault. Nelsinho Piquet has his moments, but has a rather quiet year otherwise.

5) In a surprise move to some, Brawn's presence at Honda delivers one of the stronger packages of the season. Barri and Button nevertheless fail to finish in the points consistently enough. Rumors of Bruno Senna becoming a works driver in 2010 are rampant.

6) Toyota, thanks to the priceless know-how they gained with their Prius, now runs along the top-dogs consistently. They take the manufacturer's championship.

7) Shock! Horror! Max Mosley announces his imminent exit from the FIA. No one knows for sure why, but no one really cares. Everyone's just really glad it finally happened.


I'll be satisfied if only #7 turns out to be true.

[electrao]

7) Shock! Horror! Max Mosley announces his imminent exit from the FIA. No one knows for sure why, but no one really cares. Everyone's just really glad it finally happened.


I'll be satisfied if only #7 turns out to be true.

So will I !!!
:P

[f6fhellcat13]

#7
and it'd be nice to see Force India get a point or two.

[Kitdy]

#7
and it'd be nice to see Force India get a point or two.

If the remain under that guise long enough to score points.

[Zytek_Fan]

It would be kind of ironic if Toyota took the manufacturer's title, with them preparing to leave F1...

[Kitdy]

It would be kind of ironic if Toyota took the manufacturer's title, with them preparing to leave F1...

Is that certain or dependent on success? If they win the title maybe the will stick around.

[Zytek_Fan]

Is that certain or dependent on success? If they win the title maybe the will stick around.

I don't know. By the sounds of the people at Cologne, they don't plan on sticking around long.

Sportscar racing is a lot more relevant to production, so that may be a reason they decide to jump ship. And for costs.
Spending $600 million a year on an F1 program that has yielded unsatisfactory results. Whereas, they could pour less than that and be pretty certain of victory, depending upon how they manage things. Dumping Mike Gascoyne was a horrible mistake for Toyota, and started to line up the cards to the end.

[Kitdy]

I don't know. By the sounds of the people at Cologne, they don't plan on sticking around long.

Sportscar racing is a lot more relevant to production, so that may be a reason they decide to jump ship. And for costs.
Spending $600 million a year on an F1 program that has yielded unsatisfactory results. Whereas, they could pour less than that and be pretty certain of victory, depending upon how they manage things. Dumping Mike Gascoyne was a horrible mistake for Toyota, and started to line up the cards to the end.

Being the devils advocate, success in F1 is more useful than success in sportscar racing for advertising, but they are not succeeding in F1 while spending what I thought was around 450 million a year. Also, sportscar racing sounds like it's gonna be really competitive in the coming years with Audi and Peugeot and Acura and maybe others all going for the win in P1.

[Zytek_Fan]

Being the devils advocate, success in F1 is more useful than success in sportscar racing for advertising, but they are not succeeding in F1 while spending what I thought was around 450 million a year. Also, sportscar racing sounds like it's gonna be really competitive in the coming years with Audi and Peugeot and Acura and maybe others all going for the win in P1.

All the turmoil might just scare sponsors away.
Look at all the sponsors lining up in sportscar now. Sure, they're not handing money out like in F1, but I'm sure they will be eventually.

[f6fhellcat13]

^ Wolrd Cup?

[5150]

Here in the U.S. as much as I hate to admit it NASCAR reigns "Supreme" in motorsports. (Damn!! that left an awful taste in my mouth!!) Although we did have F1 here in the states again, even if it was for a short time. But what is gaining popularity is the ALMS and Petite LMS as well. SPEED for the most part is our motorsport network, and thank God for them. If it wasn't for SPEED my F1 coverage would be minimal at best! NASCAR in the U.S. is what F1 is in the UK, Europe, and the rest of the world! I would love more than anything to have F1 back here in the states, and really give NASCAR a run for their money.

[Zytek_Fan]

Here in the U.S. as much as I hate to admit it NASCAR reigns "Supreme" in motorsports. (Damn!! that left an awful taste in my mouth!!) Although we did have F1 here in the states again, even if it was for a short time. But what is gaining popularity is the ALMS and Petite LMS as well. SPEED for the most part is our motorsport network, and thank God for them. If it wasn't for SPEED my F1 coverage would be minimal at best! NASCAR in the U.S. is what F1 is in the UK, Europe, and the rest of the world! I would love more than anything to have F1 back here in the states, and really give NASCAR a run for their money.

Well, there is some good news. NASCAR viewership is reported to be dropping, and ALMS viewership and attendance is going up.
Of course it's going to take a long time to overtake NASCAR, but it's a start
Maybe once SPEED finally scales back on their NASCAR whoring it will get better

[5150]

Well, there is some good news. NASCAR viewership is reported to be dropping, and ALMS viewership and attendance is going up.
Of course it's going to take a long time to overtake NASCAR, but it's a start
Maybe once SPEED finally scales back on their NASCAR whoring it will get better

Funny how you mention SPEED scaling back on their NASCAR whoring. When I first got SPEED, it was called SPEED Television at the time, and they had no NASCAR coverage at all, none! The only time I watch SPEED now is for F1, The ALMS, and the Barrett-Jackson Auctions, and the occasional Porsche Carrera Cup Series. But just recently I'd heard That Bernie E. is seriously considering bringing F1 back to the states, and if that happens I hope it's for good this time!

[Zytek_Fan]

Funny how you mention SPEED scaling back on their NASCAR whoring. When I first got SPEED, it was called SPEED Television at the time, and they had no NASCAR coverage at all, none! The only time I watch SPEED now is for F1, The ALMS, and the Barrett-Jackson Auctions, and the occasional Porsche Carrera Cup Series. But just recently I'd heard That Bernie E. is seriously considering bringing F1 back to the states, and if that happens I hope it's for good this time!

I remember watching SPEED when it was Speedvision.
It was so much better then. No NASCAR. There was F1, WRC, FIA GT, DTM, Aussie V8s...

The only thing that keeps me watching SPEED coverage of F1 races, ALMS, and Le Mans is the commentator crew.

[5150]

I remember watching SPEED when it was Speedvision.
It was so much better then. No NASCAR. There was F1, WRC, FIA GT, DTM, Aussie V8s...

The only thing that keeps me watching SPEED coverage of F1 races, ALMS, and Le Mans is the commentator crew.

My mistake, It was Speedvision, and Bruce Dern the actor would their commercials from time to time. By the way what happened to their coverage of the WRC? I always enjoyed watching that to.