Long Shot Season

[Glen]

Huge shake-up of the rules for 2009 could give us some big surprises but the current bookmakers' odds reflect the status quo, since there ain't much else to go on. Could be an opportunity to have a little bet - real or imaginary.

How about: This is the perfect climate for an engineering/aero innovator to flourish - could Adrian Newey come back to his best? Vettel is 40-1 for WDC 2009.

Also, Alonso is 6-1: If Renault continue to consolidate and gain confidence that's a good bet.

Or maybe a complete outside bet: What if Williams find the new regs very much to their liking? Rosberg is 100-1. Could that be worth a couple of quid?

[Satorian]

I honestly had hoped to see Kubica with 25-1 odds. Would have bet €50 on him then.

I expect some surprise teams to catch up to the top teams, but the WDC will probably be decided between the usual suspects. Either McLaren, Ferrari or BMW driver plus Alonso should be in the running, the top favorites probably being Hamilton, Massa, Kubica and Alonso.

[Marbot]

As a long shot I'd hope to see Button taking the championship by the time they reach Hungary. *reality check*

But reality would suggest that there'll be an even bigger gap between the top and bottom teams.Those that look good in Australia will probably look even better by the end of the season.

[craigd]

Originally Posted by Marbot

Those that look good in Australia will probably look even better by the end of the season.

Not necessarily since the big teams will always be able to out-develop the others. I expect some teams like Williams perhaps could be quite nifty early on but will just fall back as usual once the big boys power through with more money and copy all the best ideas from others!

[Bononi]

I'm not making any predictions...

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by Bononi

I'm not making any predictions...

I predicted that.

[Bononi]

I hate to say you're right...

[Super Hans]

I fancy a flutter on little Seb V.

[f1manoz]

Alonso at 6/1. I know he had a great end of season, but that's quite short odds for a driver within a team that still wasn't really at the top end of the table at season's end. Or was Alonso doing really well and Piquet just doing awfully?

I guess it will depend on how winter testing goes and how Renault adapt to the new rules. Worth a flutter...

[Malfunction Junction]

Traditionally, rule changes, especially significant rule changes, have suited the teams with the bigger budgets. In the late 80's a period of stability for atmo cars that lasted around 4-5 years saw the likes of Minardi challenging for poles etc.

So the bigger budgeted teams will dominate unless somebody comes up with a significantly different philosophy that proves to be a bonus, like Williams on slower circuits.

[ralf fan]

Vettel is one I'd watch out for. Maybe not a championship but I can see him having a good season, maybe a few more wins.

[Yannick]

My prediction is that those huge front wings will come off regularly in first lap melees, so that we will see nosecone changes more frequently than this year.