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[vaptin]

So, testing is meaningless right? We won't know until we reach qualifying for Australia; didn't stop you following it and looking at the times.

It's worth a go, surely:

I think Redbull will start the strongest, followed by Mercedes then McLaren, Ferrari, Lotus.

The gap to Redbull will be narrowed massively over the course of the season, by McLaren and Ferrari, Mercedes dropping off and ending up fighting with Lotus. Redbull will remain the season favourites throughout, but Ferrari and McLaren will have enough of a chance to make it interesting.

Williams/Force India/ Sauber/ Torro Rosso will all be extremely close, only a few tenths apart, and it'll be the drivers making the difference. But a poor budget will force Sauber to drop back.

Caterham will be closer, and will finish the odd race ahead of one or two of the midfield at least.

HRT will best Marussia, both cars will be permanent backmarkers, but will be reliable and generally unremarkable.

HRT throw out at least one of their drivers mid-season.

A young talent starts dirving on Fridays at Torro Rosso.

Massa will continue to struggle against a very strong and consistent Alonso, whilst Stefano will insist he is supported, his seat is safe and Ferrari fully believe in his talents and abilities which will eventually resurface whilst Luca says the opposite.

Button and Hamilton will remain very close, but Hamilton will best him.

Vettle remains very strong, Webber has the odd race but is quite roundly beaten.

All other drivers I think will be quite close to their team mates, expect for Glock and Pic.

----

I might resurrect this thread at the end of the season.

[LewEngBridewell]

This is pretty much how I feel. RBR won't be streets ahead this time I don't think... at least not by as much as in 2011. McLaren will most likely be their closest challenger, while Ferrari will recover somewhat from a lacklustre early season to maybe score the odd win as spring turns to summer.

As for the rest, it's hard to say. My eyes will be focussed sharply on Williams and Caterham, both teams which I really want to see leap forward. Whether they do or not, is difficult to say, but I'm not getting my hopes up.

[racechick]

I think Red Bull will have a small lead over McLaren ,then Mercedes, then Lotus/ Ferrari. Ferrari will come on through the season and be fighting Mercedes for third slot by mid season.

Vettel and Lewis will be the two drivers slugging it out at the top, Alonso will join the fight after half way through the season.

Rosberg and Schumacher will fight for supremecy putting in some good results. They will be allowed to fight unless they are in with a chance of the title and then the nod will go to Schumacher.

Bruno will do well..

Catterham will make a big improvement.

[bud]

I don't see Mercedes being in the top 3 myself. Or do I think Ferrari is as bad as made out to be.

[Hammer278]

This could be the fanboy in me talking, but I believe it will be Lewis' revenge year...after all the sh*t he went through in 2011. McLaren has had one of their best winter testing seasons since I've been watching at least, and they seem to be in bullish mood. From a rubbish winter test last year and grabbing 6 wins...to a great winter test, assuming they are on par with Redbull from Race 1, my money is on VMM.

I feel Ferrari are destined for 3rd place this year unless they could find some sort of serious pace by the 4th race this season. Reason being, they aren't going to have an easy time before as I think Merc and Lotus will cause them major headaches and possibly steal points off, leaving McLaren and Redbull running away a bit into the distance. But Ferrari's strength in depth should see them comfortably take 3rd by the end of course.

I think Merc and Lotus are going to have a real scrap for 4th till the end.

Lastly, I hope Caterham score a few points at least...and Kobayashi drives his a**e off and lands a serious drive in 2013. That's it for now.

[vlad]

Vettel will be the strongest again. Hamilton will be much stronger than he was last year. Button, as always, consistent. Ferrari in problems, Mercedes looking good, and Kimi and Romain pulling some suprises. From the mid-field teams Force India, Sauber and Torro Rosso will continue their fearsome battle.

I will support Vettel (like always), Kimi and probably Hulkenberg/Kobayashi... Always liked Torro Rosso.


I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE WEEKEND!!! IT'S HERE!!!

[LRW]

RBR will be plagued with reliability issues. Vettel will buckle under the pressure and will have his 'annus horribilis' culminating in him smashing into Webber out on the 3rd from last corner at Abu Dhabi, taking them both out, and making it impossible for either of them to win the WDC. Webber will start a fracas with Vettel in the pits.

VMM will have a much improved year. Button will continue to maintain a high level of consistency, but will not be able to match a reborn Hamilton. Hamilton will drive with determination, passion and aggression, but also with a class and consideration that has been lacking over the last couple of seasons.

Mercedes will do ok, but will be fighting with Ferrari. Both behind Lotus, who will consistently be fighting for podium finishes.

Force India will be scrapping with a much improved Williams, and eventually come out ontop.

The rest will be mediocre.

[vlad]

Nice drug...

[killem2]

I think Vettel, Hamilton, and Button will all be competing very very strongly for the top spot, but as the season goes on, and Webber starts to realize he's in the best car of the season, he'll start preforming, but it'll be too late for him. But he'll do well enough to ruin the chances of Button or Hamilton to win it all.

I do not see williams doing well at all this year. Lotus will be startlingly faster this year than with bruno and mother russia.

[F1 Kingpin]

Not that Im being too detailed - id say over the opening races until the in season test heres my predictions:

Red Bull
McLaren +0.2 (seconds)
Mercedes +0.5
Ferrari/Lotus +0.7
Force India +1.2
STR/Sauber +1.5
Williams +2.0
Caterham +2.5
HRT +4.0
Marussia +4.5


Red Bull, McLaren and Mercedes to lock out the front 3 rows in Melbourne followed by Kimi and Alonso. Maybe one or both Force Indias sneak in to the top 10.

By the European leg of the season Ferrari to catch and possibly overtake Mercedes. Lotus stuck in the middle of everyone consistently picking up lower end points positions.

Caterham - may score a point or 2 - could battle with Williams for majority of season.

As said in previous post: Saubers development will be slow compared to others around them - could fall in to Williams/Caterham battle.

Vettel vs Mclarens for whole of season!

[calvins48]

My prediction for the top 10 drivers at the end of the season:

1 - Sebastian Vettel
The sport's youngest-ever back-to-back champ is set become the third driver in history (behind Juan-Manuel Fangio and Michael Schumacher) to win three World Driver's Championships on the trot. He's got the skill, the team and the car. Yes, McLaren will be strong but Adrian Newey is a smart cookie and the RB8 will still win it for Sebastian, but only just.

2 - Lewis Hamilton
And only just over this man. Lewis will put up a good fight and will lead the title throughout many times during the season but the MP4-27 will just not be strong enough against the RB8. Lewis' mind will be on racing this year and his focus will help him. However, while Lewis may be a better overall driver than Sebastian, his car won't be and he'll have to settle for second.

3 - Jenson Button
The champion of the '09 season will have to console himself with third in the Championship. He’ll get as high as second place in the championship during the year, but find Hamilton's returning form to be too much to handle and will have to deal with third place come the season's end.

4 – Mark Webber
After only winning one race the season before, things will be much the same this year for the Australian. He won’t be able to keep up with Vettel’s prowess in the RB8 and the stronger McLarens will relegate Mark further down the order. He might have to start thinking about retirement after this season – it looks like his World Title will never be in his grasp again.

5 – Fernando Alonso
Fernando’s Ferrari will frustrate him throughout the year and will take longer than expected to deliver results. The team bosses say he’s the out-and-out “best” driver on the grid but they won’t be able to say the same for his slow car. Like last year he’ll only achieve one race victory and this will come late on in the season when the F2012 has been further developed and the team have finally learned the car. Alonso’s move to Ferrari has yet to flourish.

6 – Nico Rosberg
The F1 WO3 will have an impressive start to the season and everyone will wonder where they’re finding their pace. Soon, the faster teams will discover it and Mercedes run of fortune will come to a close. Expect some podiums and maybe even an early, much-needed race win for the German.

7 – Felipe Massa
Felipe’s form will get even worse with the state the F2012 beneath him is in at the start of the season. His confidence will be further knocked by the speedy Spaniard in the other Ferrari and he might find himself joining another team for 2013. Ferrari will realise that it’s finally time for Felipe to depart. The unfortunate Brazilian was never really the same after his accident in Hungary in 2009.

8 – Kimi Raikonnen
After showing impressive results after pre-season testing, Lotus’ E20 will find itself outclassed by the Red Bulls and McLarens early on but will keep an early lead over the Ferraris. Once the Maranello team catches up, Kimi will find himself consistently finishing out of the top three. However, the champion of the ’08 season will extract more from the car than his team mate Grosjean, just not enough to be in with a shout of the Title.

9 – Michael Schumacher
Another former World Champion will have another mediocre year. Even in an improved car, Michael won’t have a chance in the title battle. His F1 W03 will give him a podium or two but his younger, fitter team mate will handle the car better and finish much higher up the order. Is it time for the 7-time champion to hang up the racing gloves for good?

10 – Romain Grosjean
After finding that his car performed well early on, Romain will get a good start but be in a season-long battle with the Force Indias. The Swiss man with a French Racing License will find that his E20 will come out on top and deliver him a respectable 10th in the Championship. The Force Indias will have the pace but it won’t be consistent enough to beat the Lotus’ come November.

[LewEngBridewell]

7 – Felipe Massa
Felipe’s form will get even worse with the state the F2012 beneath him is in at the start of the season. His confidence will be further knocked by the speedy Spaniard in the other Ferrari and he might find himself joining another team for 2013. Ferrari will realise that it’s finally time for Felipe to depart. The unfortunate Brazilian was never really the same after his accident in Hungary in 2010.

2009! 2009 Sir! Back in the old days, when Barrichello was a winner, the car in front was a Brawn (with loose springs) and Jaime Algersuari was a teeny-weeny 19 year old tot!

(I was also 19 at that time, actually!) Life was so easy then...

[calvins48]

RBR will be plagued with reliability issues. Vettel will buckle under the pressure and will have his 'annus horribilis' culminating in him smashing into Webber out on the 3rd from last corner at Abu Dhabi, taking them both out, and making it impossible for either of them to win the WDC. Webber will start a fracas with Vettel in the pits.

I'm sorry, but LOLOLOLOLOLOL.

[calvins48]

7 – Felipe Massa
Felipe’s form will get even worse with the state the F2012 beneath him is in at the start of the season. His confidence will be further knocked by the speedy Spaniard in the other Ferrari and he might find himself joining another team for 2013. Ferrari will realise that it’s finally time for Felipe to depart. The unfortunate Brazilian was never really the same after his accident in Hungary in 2010.

2009! 2009 Sir! Back in the old days, when Barrichello was a winner, the car in front was a Brawn (with loose springs) and Jaime Algersuari was a teeny-weeny 19 year old tot!

Oop, sorry, my 20 year old brain didn't help me there!

[calvins48]

mother russia.

Haha!!