[txusa03]

any one here follow F1? BMW just simply not very competitive. And what the heck is wrong with jacques villeneuve. He won 1 champ with Williams and that was it. Even Toyota is beating BMW in f1.

[E90Boy]

[Ghunger]

For a first year F1 team BMW is doing quite well from what I've seen. Robert Kubica is often one of the fastest test drivers on test days. They've improved a great deal in a single year over the Sauber team that they took over from. In F1 the car means a lot more than in a lot of other racing series and they've still got some work to do to improve that old Sauber chassis. As far as the Toyota thing though, with the amount of money Toyota is spending on F1 they better be ahead of BMW. Heck, they should at least be on the podium for that much cash.

[txusa03]

Originally Posted by Ghunger

For a first year F1 team BMW is doing quite well from what I've seen. Robert Kubica is often one of the fastest test drivers on test days. They've improved a great deal in a single year over the Sauber team that they took over from. In F1 the car means a lot more than in a lot of other racing series and they've still got some work to do to improve that old Sauber chassis. As far as the Toyota thing though, with the amount of money Toyota is spending on F1 they better be ahead of BMW. Heck, they should at least be on the podium for that much cash.

So you feel that the chassis is what holding back the bmw team? It would be very interesting to see the new chassis for next year (hope they have one in the works as we speak).

[Ghunger]

To some degree, yes. I don't think their drivers are world class either though, to be perfectly honest (Compared to Renault, Ferrari, and West Mclaren Mercedes). You have to start doing well to pull the better drivers. They definitely have a top notch engine program and personally think that's possibly what's giving them the results they have so far. With some improvement to the chassis and aero I think they could have a good package.
The top three seem to be in a class of their own for the time being with Honda being the best of the rest. My expectation is that BMW-Sauber will be running about where Honda is running now, in a year or two. Kinda long winded, but this technical cat and mouse stuff is what I like about F1.

[Juve29]

Villeneuve is not that bad. Last race he got penalised (he lost ten slots on the starting grid). As for the engine, only Ferrari reaches a top speed faster than BMW. Notice on straight line the only car that goes faster is the Ferrari. The problem with BMW is the overall package. The chassis is not that bad either. Bmw is catching up (where ever BMW is going Ferrari has already been there). Whats suprising is that Williams are doing better than BMW. This year BMW has to do better than WILLIAMS to show that their seperation was worth it. Williams has a lot of people whom have already won titles while Sauber always had a mediocre team who nonetheless did a lot with a small budget.

[txusa03]

I don't like williams because he is a stubborn owner. He is the type of person that like "my way or the highway". Yup, I think it is a good thing bmw removed themself from williams hence he is only slowing down bmw progress. To be competitive, you really need to do well during the qualifying, I don't think that they are doing their best in qualifying. I know it takes more than just car, chasis, engine, tyres, drivers, talented crew chief, etc...

[MCS]

BMW is in a building/rebuilding year. They bought the chassis and development works from the previous owner - Sauber, which was previously using Ferrari engines. Sauber was always on the mid to lower tier of F1 and it will take this year at the very least to develop a competitive package.

F1 is a tough sport to compete in, the cars improve with every race through the year with Chassis improvement and engine refinement. Even the tires are custom made for each race and improve through the year!

Best Chassis - Renault
Best Engine - Ferrari (BMW had the lock on the V10, but is having a hard time adjusting to the V8 format)

That being said, I was never a big fan of JV, I am a stronger supporter of Nick Heidfeld. JV just barely won in 96 when he should of locked the season up with the superior Williams package...

[txusa03]

Originally Posted by MCS

F1 is a tough sport to compete in, the cars improve with every race through the year with Chassis improvement and engine refinement. Even the tires are custom made for each race and improve through the year!

That being said, I was never a big fan of JV, I am a stronger supporter of Nick Heidfeld. JV just barely won in 96 when he should of locked the season up with the superior Williams package...

I like JV when he first joined f1 and he always did really well in the qualifying (like you said back when williams was superior). I am beginning to think that JV really lost the love for that sport and that he is just doing it to make money. It is ashame because I thought he had potential (I heard his dad was a great driver).

[Juve29]

J.V. should had never left Williams to join B.A.R. But then again Williams seem to have a hard time to keep their drivers (remember Prost, Mansell, Hill, Montoya).

[txusa03]

Juve29, you ever had a chance to go see an f1 race in Canada?

[Juve29]

Originally Posted by txusa03

Juve29, you ever had a chance to go see an f1 race in Canada?

The Canadian Grand Prix is held in Montreal. I live about 20 minutes away from the circuit Gille Villeneuve.

I've been in 1991, 1992, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003. Its expensive but well worth the price. I prefer the races in 1991 and 1992 because you could smell the engines more. Plus, at that time Ferrari had V12 the noise on that engine was incredible. These days the cars aren`t as loud as before.

[gdnyc]

BMW was getting better when they were with Williams. But like it was said before, they can't keep drivers. If you look at Ferarri, Renault and to some degree Mclaren, they have had the same drivers for a few seasons. They learn how the drivers are at the best over time and develop the car according to that. How do you think Schumacher has done so well.
Renault is following the same idea as Ferrari. Alonso is getting all teh attention where as Fisichella gets the seconds. Same as it was with Schumacher and Barichello.

[foofighter]

Originally Posted by Juve29

The Canadian Grand Prix is held in Montreal. I live about 20 minutes away from the circuit Gille Villeneuve.

I've been in 1991, 1992, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003. Its expensive but well worth the price. I prefer the races in 1991 and 1992 because you could smell the engines more. Plus, at that time Ferrari had V12 the noise on that engine was incredible. These days the cars aren`t as loud as before.

i was there in 94 and i believe they were still running V12's back then as well. God that was a great experience...nothing like forgetting to put on your earplugs and getting your ears blown out when they all took off for their recon lap.

[Ghunger]

Originally Posted by Juve29

... These days the cars aren`t as loud as before.

So they were louder before? I just got back from my ED and I went to the European Grand Prix at the Nurburgring and I thought that was loud. I would have loved to see those V12 run though. I've only seen video of them and they sound fantastic. The Canadian Grandprix is on my list of races to go to. Maybe next years race?

[txusa03]

Originally Posted by gdnyc

But like it was said before, they can't keep drivers.

look like williams needs to open up his wallet a little wider... and loose that stubborness know it all attitude and let the drivers and crew chief works and try not to interrup then maybe williams will be back on the podium again.

Juve29, i envy you. I went to 3 cart/champ car races and it was fun the first time but somehow, the last 2 times were not that exciting. I think I would enjoy f1 more...

[ON325i]

i still have the Juan Pablo Montoya official bmw cap and he left

that is almost the same as stealing my $$$ and run away!!!

[Juve29]

Originally Posted by txusa03

look like williams needs to open up his wallet a little wider... and loose that stubborness know it all attitude and let the drivers and crew chief works and try not to interrup then maybe williams will be back on the podium again.

Juve29, i envy you. I went to 3 cart/champ car races and it was fun the first time but somehow, the last 2 times were not that exciting. I think I would enjoy f1 more...

I've been to one champ car race, unfortunatly it was after they got rid of their turbo engines. It must have been amazing to hear the sound of those turbo engines.

[MCS]

Any thoughts on the last GP - Monaco and the MS qualifying incident?

My Opinion:

Shame on Michael, he could of won the race from either P1 or P2.

Good for RedBull & DC, nice to see a new works car on the podium...

[graeme320d]

Absolutely, it was great to see DC on the podium again . I don't think he expected to be there again this year. Shame it wasn't in the last race when he ran in his 200th GP.
The MS scenario - hard to beleive he would do such a thing but then again I have always felt he is an arrogant driver - just my opinion!
the sport is all about different personalities and this season will see a lot of changes being announced for 2007. Will try to get to Monaco next year - expensive but worth it for the atmosphere. Spa in 2000 and Nurburgering in 2001.

[shimshimhada]

If they hire me as their primary driver, BMW would be on the podium every GP.

[foofighter]

michael's done a few questionable manuevers in the past so i wouldnt put it past him