MS losing his edge(?) - Page 4

Yoong Montoya · 4 Sep 2003, 20:22 (Ref:708421)

Quote:

Originally posted by ASCII Man
Too late to say the same thing...
Damn you, Yoong!

Sorry ASCII Man

krt917 · 5 Sep 2003, 10:38 (Ref:708968)

I think it's a bit too soon to write Michael off. I think that he is probably passed his peak as a driver, but he is still capable of producing great races. Winning at Canada was pretty impressive, for example.

I don't think he has forgotten how to fight - in fact, I think we've seen more fight out of him this year than we have for a couple of seasons. The tyres are the main reason for his drop off in performance, though of course it is true that Rubens has compared well with him recently. That is a bit odd, because when the going gets tough, Schuey usually extends his advantage over his team-mates (that makes Divio's suggestion interesting).

If Michael and Ferrari had been on Michelins, they would have won the title (though I do believe that Williams have genuinely now caught up). However, they are not and Bridgestones, Schuey and Ferrari now have to do something pretty special if they're going to win this year. And that is good for F1.

Final note: I think Michael has proved he can win the title in not-the-best car. Noway was the B195 the best car all season. And, in any case, how many drivers have actually won the title with a car that isn't the best? Not many....Oh, and don't you think Michael deserves some credit for being one of the reasons for Ferrari being able to give him a great car?

vatuloa · 7 Sep 2003, 06:40 (Ref:710574)

This is the main reason wyou are not performing to your best get the manager to speak instead.

From F1central.com

Ross Brawn says Formula One has made redundant the concept of 'pushing like mad' in the quest for a good grid position.

Ferrari's technical director reckons new-for-2003 one-lap qualifying rules mean drivers now take it easier because they can't afford to make a mistake.

'They all see the consequences of falling off,' said the Briton, 'and as a result we're getting a bit of a tame qualifying.'

Brawn said Schumacher and his rivals 'still push hard' but it's not like the old 12-lap system where they put in some bankers and then 'really go for it.

'They could do that because they had nothing to lose,' he adds. 'They can't do it now. No-one can afford to make a mistake.

'I'm not sure that the one-lap qualifying is providing the spectacle we all imagined it to.'

Ross Brawn also criticised the other major change to the 2003 Formula One regulations; forcing cars to start the race with the fuel run in qualifying.

'It wasn't discussed and suddenly there it was,' he said. 'A regulation. It really restricts the strategies you can run.'

The burly Englishman acknowledges that the rule was designed to improve the show and give smaller teams a chance to earn better coverage by running light fuel.

'But we've all really had to adopt what I refer to as 'sensible' strategies so I really don't see what the rule does for Formula One.'

tally-bally-ho · 7 Sep 2003, 08:52 (Ref:710615)

Of course he hasn't lost his edge, the equipment he drives has. I doubt it has much to do with the chassis, more likely it has to do with those black, round boring things that no one really understands. Put all F1 teams on the same tyre again and remove another factor that clouds our perception of the ability of each driver.

vatuloa · 7 Sep 2003, 09:02 (Ref:710619)

Bernie tips Kimi to win the 2003 Championship according to Planet F1

Ecclestone Believes The Crown Will Go To Kimi
06/09/03
Bernie Ecclestone has joined the chorus of voices putting forward their predictions for the 2003 World Championship, and has gone for the driver least favoured of the top three, Kimi Raikkonen.

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While many people are predicting that Michael Schumacher will be dethroned this season the majority of the paddock believe Juan Pablo Montoya will achieve the feat. The Williams driver is second in the Drivers' standings, only one point behind Schumacher.

However, bucking the trend, Ecclestone has put Raikkonen down as his favourite to win this season's title. The McLaren driver may be third in the Drivers' standings but he's only two points behind Schumacher.

"I'm one of Montoya's biggest supporters and we all know about Michael," he said.

"Montoya can be either fantastic or not. Räikkönen is more consistent so you would probably have to put your money on him."

tally-bally-ho · 7 Sep 2003, 09:21 (Ref:710627)

Maybe Bernie is just winding Max up. Remember Max's views on Kimi when he started at Sauber, something along the lines of "All F1 drivers are supreme beings so I doubt this youngster has a hope in hell. I expect him to be a liability because driving F1 is SO difficult with traction control, launch control, auto gearbox etc. he'll never cope with the extreme difficulty of choosing where to brake and turn in, I mean thats 2 things to do, really tough"

Valve Bounce · 11 Sep 2003, 03:33 (Ref:714632)

Nobody here seems to have brought up the subject that Rubens was ell ahead of SchM, and had Rubens's rear suspension not come adrift, SchM would not even have scored a point. Surely there must be an explanation for this lack of pace.

ralf fan · 11 Sep 2003, 04:40 (Ref:714650)

Yeah, after Silverstone Rubens seems to be doing better than MS. His quly performances are better and at Hungary he was 3rd when he retired so he could have scored some big pts.

Wrex · 11 Sep 2003, 04:53 (Ref:714653)

Lets be realistic here, the only direction RB could go was up. This year he's been the worse performer of the top 6 (including DC) IMO.

That said, there are no excuses for MS at Hungary, it was a very poor performance. While tyres account for alot of it, the fact RB was miles in front and Heidfeld so close behind shoes it was'nt all that.

Pull your finger out Michael.

climb · 11 Sep 2003, 06:23 (Ref:714682)

from a general point of view I agree with you Wrex; it'a however true, as Nigel Roebuck points on Autosport, that Rubens gave F1 the best drive of 2003, at Silverstone.

**Bononi** · 11 Sep 2003, 11:31 (Ref:714920)

Well, RB did the best race of 2003, but overall it's a poor year for him, and unless he outperforms the 3 title contenders in the last 3 races, it will remain that way.

Now, I think old TGF can be a little shaken, but he still seems to have plenty motivation to win more WDCs...

Mr V · 11 Sep 2003, 19:50 (Ref:715532)

Well, you can't write Michael off, or Ferrari's ability to use Rubens good driving to help Michael.

paulzinho · 11 Sep 2003, 21:28 (Ref:715659)

Rubens has had a bit of an inconsistent year, he shouldve won in Brasil but reliability or lack of fuel let him down, he was beating Mike in Hungary....reliability.

OK he pranged in Oz, his fault and pranged in Hockenheim (racing incident) but if he'd had Schumi levels of reliability he'd actually still be in with a shot of the title.

Which is a shame.

**Bononi** · 12 Sep 2003, 11:45 (Ref:716224)

BS happens, but how often it can happen ?

If bad luck has a name, this name is Rubens.

Oh, and he has the bad luck of being inconsistent too...

paulzinho · 12 Sep 2003, 19:51 (Ref:716874)

Yeah he's had a few dull performances this year I'm not denying that, but if he had Schumis reliability they wouldn't be too far apart on points!

Knowlesy · 12 Sep 2003, 20:31 (Ref:716919)

From Silverstone onwards he has always had the better of Michael!

**Bononi** · 15 Sep 2003, 12:54 (Ref:719516)

...and now Michael has the best of all the rest...

Stephenw · 15 Sep 2003, 21:39 (Ref:720077)

I'm just curious if people still think MS is losing his edge after this weekend?

He was perfect, and quite a bit faster the RB too...

Redblurr · 16 Sep 2003, 09:14 (Ref:720443)

Quote:

Originally posted by Stephenw
I'm just curious if people still think MS is losing his edge after this weekend?

He was perfect, and quite a bit faster the RB too...

I do not think MS is losing his edge - he won on Sunday with a cold. He will go on to win the WDC this year, and Ferrari (after this years lapse) will provide him with the car for next year's WDC - no problem

Valve Bounce · 16 Sep 2003, 09:25 (Ref:720450)

Look!! the guy went fact in practice, he qualified on pole, he led from start to finish, he had the fastest car, ........

I don't think there was ever a chance of anyone overtaking SchM once Ralf the Overtaker was sidelined

So let's not take away this great win from the guy, OK?

ASCII Man · 16 Sep 2003, 09:29 (Ref:720453)

Ralf the what?
It could have been more exciting, maybe even a different winner if it had not been for Frentzen and Baumgartner holding Montoya up.

Redblurr · 16 Sep 2003, 09:50 (Ref:720465)

Montoya was never going to win this race - he could not even get past with higher downforce and a lighter fuel load and Michellin boots on the first lap.

ASCII Man · 16 Sep 2003, 09:58 (Ref:720477)

How do you know?
Anything could have happened.

They both could have crashed out in that last fight, giving the crown to Kimi.

Valve Bounce · 16 Sep 2003, 09:59 (Ref:720480)

Let's face it - the Ferrari was faster down te straight, and that eliminated any chance of overtaking by JPM's Williams.

Redblurr · 16 Sep 2003, 10:08 (Ref:720489)

I agree it (Ferrari) was faster down the straight - but also it required great driver control all around the track because of the low downforce used.

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