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[Martin]

Yeah, I know what you mean. It's pretty evident that I'm not along those lines. I supported Jordan from '98 to 2005, and now I'm backing Honda, though I've always had such a level of respect for Williams that I'd be happy to see them on top, and get a little sad when they're doing poorly. But not as much as would be the case if Honda went to the top or dropped (not so far) down to the bottom. It's a combination of character and the desire to improve that I like in a team. Well, desire to improve and then actually doing everything they can to do so (the difference between Honda and Toyota). If they win, that makes it even more special.

Well said - you are a real proper fan. Like most on this forum I must say.

[AKR]

I don't know how many other hardcore Ferrari tifosi like Williams but I for some reason have a soft spot for them. I especially liked it when Nigel Mansell was there and won a drivers title. When Mansell won Ferrari wasn't doing so well. I was obviously for Ferrari the whole time but if I had to choose between Mansell or Senna it was Mansell and Williams. Anyway that is just me. One must remember that there was a time when Ferrari's rival was not McLaren and it was Williams. (The Damon Hill and Villenouve eras). Anyway someone had to win then and it can't always be Ferrari so Williams won good on them. If the hardcore tifosi don't like them then be it. I like Williams and so if they can pull it off in 2009 and beyond, all the best wishes to them. I will always be a true Ferrari tifosa but as I said we cannot always win so when I have preferences for other teams, Williams is one of them.

[nikon133]

1. Hamilton - Starts 2nd, gets the jump on Massa at the start and pulls off into the distance
2. Massa - Grabs pole but loses out at the start
3. Rosberg - The surprise of qualifying starting third and having a solid race keeping Heidfeld behind
4. Heidfeld - Continues his trend of finishing fourth
5. Piquet - A good debut sees him overtake Alonso in the process
6. Bourdais - Out to prove he is not the next Michael Andretti/Zanardi and does it in style
7. Sutil - Goes almost totally unnoticed during the race passing everyone whilst James Allen is too busy comparing Hamilton with Senna
8. Nakajima - Gets caught up in a collision with Kovalainen and Raikkonen at the start but fights back
9. Alonso - An unhappy start for Renault's "No. 1"
10. Vettel - A tad unlucky in this race after qualifying well but outdone by Bourdais in the race
11. Davidson - A decent performance from the struggling Super Aguri team after starting lowly
12. Glock - Has a quiet race running ahead of Trulli
13. Button - Qualifies dead last, comments the car handles like a truck and has a quiet and uninspiring race
14. Trulli - Shows his Senna-esque qualifying pace to (barely) get him into the top 10 and then as per usual fudges up his start and has a poor race
15. Fisichella (DNF) - Desperately bad luck as the engine fails whilst running 6th after a solid weekend
16. Kubica (DNF) - Bad luck again for Kubica for the second year in a row with gearbox troubles
17. Coulthard (DNF) - Crashes in the pitlane entrance
18. Webber (DNF) - Runs ahead of the BMW's at the start but predictably his car-breaker nature makes his Red Bull crack
19. Barrichello (DNF) - Car runs like a pig "for sure" throughout the race
20. Sato (DNF) - Reliability gremlins
21. Kovalainen (DNF) - Collides with Raikkonen at the start
22. Raikkonen (DNF) - Collides with Kovalainen at the start

Now that is detailed prediction...

I really wouldn't go behind simple one - 3 out of 4 McLarens and Ferraris on the podium. I'd say Massa and HK have equal chance to finish lower or DNF. Massa will "overload" himself with desire to start season with a win and is prone to make mistake. HK will race his first in McLaren and will be in surrounding he's not used to (front rows). Kimi and LH? Ferrari looks strong now, but I can remember McLaren looking good during winter but failing to deliver when real stuff comes... so winter form is not necessarily genuine sign of true form...

[f1ea]

The soft spot for some people with Williams is similar to the one with Reanult and maybe even BMW/Sauber recently... they are relatively small teams with great racing tradition and their recent drivers have seemed to rise above expectations. In short, these teams have made their recent drivers "look good".

Many paeople have never "un-supported" Mclaren, but with the exception of Lewis, all their drivers after Hakkinen seem to have fallen short of their expectations for whatever the reason... and in the end, this almost always drives supporters away. I admit this is unfair... but that's life.

Damn, it's almost time... Best of luck to all the teams and drivers!!

[texasmr2]

The soft spot for some people with Williams is similar to the one with Reanult and maybe even BMW/Sauber recently... they are relatively small teams with great racing tradition and their recent drivers have seemed to rise above expectations. In short, these teams have made their recent drivers "look good".

Many paeople have never "un-supported" Mclaren, but with the exception of Lewis, all their drivers after Hakkinen seem to have fallen short of their expectations for whatever the reason... and in the end, this almost always drives supporters away. I admit this is unfair... but that's life.

Damn, it's almost time... Best of luck to all the teams and drivers!!

I like that outlook/opinion .

[EwanM]

1. Kimi
2. Massa

I think Ferrari are going to win this event easy... They are always fast at Melbourne, (bar 2005 and 6) and will have better long term pace than Mclaren after the first round of pit stops.

3. Kovalinen (Trouble free race, just plugs away)
4. Hamilton (I think he's going to spin trying to catch the Ferraris)
5. Rosberg (He's gonna fight with Kubica)
6. Kubica
7. Alonso (Renault are going to get FAR better as the season goes on, but Alonso will need to hope cars infront drop out to get close, and as an Alonso fan I can openly admit that... Renault are still way behind)
8. Heidfeld

[woody2goody]

1. Raikkonen (will edge it on strategy rather than pure pace)
2. Hamilton
3. Kovalainen
4. Heidfeld
5. Massa
6. Rosberg
7. Kubica
8. Alonso

[racingstu]

Predictions are supposed to be my speciality, but I'm consistently mediocre. But as I run a game, I'll give it a go. BY the way, I love 7UPs predictions, I'd be happy if you were right!

I think Raikkonen will win though, chased by Kovalainen. Massa will get too excited and drop down the order and I'm having bad vibrations about Mr Hamilton. I fear he may not finish.

Toyota will finish unnoticed - in fact two of the stewards will be surprised to see them in Parc Fermé, having never heard of them before. Red Bull will beat Renault, but Alonso will finish well. The two Toro Rosso Sebs will cancel each other out and Heidfeld will finish third, but no one will notice that either.

Williams will look on track for good points, but instead will crash into backmarkers.

So as you can see it's going to be a good race!

[Lem]

Strongly fancy a Ferrari 1-2 to kick the season off and think it'll be a long hard season for McLaren. We'll see though, I said the same last season

Anyhow, I'm going for:

1. Raikkonen
2. Massa
3. Kubica
4. Kovalinen
5. Alonso
6. Rosberg
7. Piquet Jr
8. Barrichello

Fancy Heidfeld and Hamilton to get tangled up somewhere along the line, no idea why!

[woody2goody]

1. Raikkonen
2. Massa
3. Hamilton
4. Heidfeld
5. Kovalainen
6. Rosberg
7. Alonso
8. Kubica
--------------
9. Coulthard
10.Nakajima
11. Piquet
12. Trulli

[pmilto]

1. Massa
2. Raikkonen (will mess up at the start and have to fight back)
3. Kovalainen (cuz he's simply quicker than Hamilton)
4. Hamilton
5. Kubica (BMW turns out to be much quicker than in testing and finishes not that far behind Ferrari and McLaren)
6. Alonso (mad skills allow him to get 6th place in a shitty Renault)
7. Rosberg (very impressive drive to hold off Heidfeld)
8. Heidfeld (much slower than Kubica and will have to fight for points)

9. Webber (so close.... )
10. Nakajima (will make some rookie mistake while being in front of Rosberg)
11. Piquet (very inconsistent pace)
12. Coulthard (simply drove from the start to the finish)
13. Bourdais
14. Vettel
15. Fisichella
....
21. Button
22. Barichello (it is going to be a huge humiliation....)

[racechick]

1. Massa
2. Raikkonen (will mess up at the start and have to fight back)
3. Kovalainen (cuz he's simply quicker than Hamilton)
4. Hamilton
5. Kubica (BMW turns out to be much quicker than in testing and finishes not that far behind Ferrari and McLaren)
6. Alonso (mad skills allow him to get 6th place in a shitty Renault)
7. Rosberg (very impressive drive to hold off Heidfeld)
8. Heidfeld (much slower than Kubica and will have to fight for points)

9. Webber (so close.... )
10. Nakajima (will make some rookie mistake while being in front of Rosberg)
11. Piquet (very inconsistent pace)
12. Coulthard (simply drove from the start to the finish)
13. Bourdais
14. Vettel
15. Fisichella
....
21. Button
22. Barichello (it is going to be a huge humiliation....)

3rd and 4th
Noway Hammy will be first or second depending on the relative merits of the ferrari and McLaren,
Rosberg should be higher.
I like your 12th but think you,ve been generous to him

[7UpJordan]

Williams will look on track for good points, but instead will crash into backmarkers.

So as you can see it's going to be a good race!

That's if Ralf Schumacher suddenly sneaks back into the F1 scene or Andrea De Cesaris or Philippe Alliot come out of retirement.

[Denthúl]

1. Massa
2. Raikkonen (will mess up at the start and have to fight back)
3. Kovalainen (cuz he's simply quicker than Hamilton)
4. Hamilton
5. Kubica (BMW turns out to be much quicker than in testing and finishes not that far behind Ferrari and McLaren)
6. Alonso (mad skills allow him to get 6th place in a shitty Renault)
7. Rosberg (very impressive drive to hold off Heidfeld)
8. Heidfeld (much slower than Kubica and will have to fight for points)

9. Webber (so close.... )
10. Nakajima (will make some rookie mistake while being in front of Rosberg)
11. Piquet (very inconsistent pace)
12. Coulthard (simply drove from the start to the finish)
13. Bourdais
14. Vettel
15. Fisichella
....
21. Button
22. Barichello (it is going to be a huge humiliation....)

Someone else who fails to realise that Super Aguri will have a car that is at least partially made up of the RA107 chassis. And that they won't have much in the line of funds. Which is a shame, because Sato's move on Alonso in Canada was ace. The Honda car isn't fast, but one thing it has shown is reliability, which should hopefully see the team in the points a little more often. Then just wait for 2009...

[texasmr2]

That's if Ralf Schumacher suddenly sneaks back into the F1 scene or Andrea De Cesaris or Philippe Alliot come out of retirement.

Phillipe would be great but Andre De Crasheris would need to bring serious sponsorship money to the table just to cover the cost of all the car's he crash's out.