We are over half way through the season now, who do you think will win the 2 championships? I can't honestly see anyone catching Fernando, but i do think that sundays race has turned round Juan Pablo's season and McLaren are only 15 points off Renault so, for me.....
WDC Fernando Alonso
WCC McLaren
Dani Filth 12 Jul 2005, 16:48 big chances for that to happen MrV .. but we'll just have to wait and see
Kicking-back 12 Jul 2005, 16:55 Alonso or Raikkonen
McLaren
BSchneiderFan 12 Jul 2005, 17:05 Alonso, Renault.
To get enough points for the WCC McLaren will be forced to be more cautious with performance, which will probably mean that Kimi can't win the WDC. I suppose they aren't actually that far away from having to make that choice anyway... hmm.
Alonso and Renault is my call, but it could be super close on the Constructor's.
Menelaos 12 Jul 2005, 17:13 Alonso, McLaren both are equally certain in my opinion
EDIT: both could end up differently though. The only sure thing is that if Raikkonen wins the title then McLaren will also win the title. This is certainly not the case for Alonso & Renault.
Both are equally certain, but both could end up different? So both are equally uncertain? :-p
Anyway, I would say that Fernando and Mclaren are likely to win their respective championships.
Who knows, though, it could be Kimi/Renault; there might even be a stunning run of disasters for both teams and Ferrari/Michael win both titles!
There are varying degrees of likelihood, with the variability able to be taken either in statistical or subjective terms (even both, as tends to be the case).
I guess the ultimate unknown is what makes sport so interesting.
There are varying degrees of likelihood, with the variability able to be taken either in statistical or subjective terms (even both, as tends to be the case).
I guess the ultimate unknown is what makes sport so interesting.
The ultimate unknown is what does the first sentence mean! ;)
LMAO. Fair comment.
What I meant to get across was: whilst we may speculate, using empirical evidence and /or personal interpretation, we really can never know before it happens, and, therefore, the only way to find out is to watch the races.
On a controversial note, I would suggest that Renault's losing of the WCC this year could cost Fisi his seat. Flavio was quick to pull Trulli when he faltered and I doubt he was too happy with Fisi stalling her in 2 successive races; and one likely costing Renault a podium finish.
Although mathematically, the WDC/WCC is supposedly wide open, the WDC is almost certain to be Alonso's already...unless big disaster strikes for Renault.
Similarly, WCC may seem like a close contest, with even Ferrari seemingly to be in with a chance...but it's going to probably end up in Mclaren's hands, at worse Renault.
I would have loved to see Kimi win the WDC this year..but it's going to be very difficult, despite what the points table try to suggest.
As was said several times on Sunday it's not possible to 'stall' an F1 car, unless there is a software or other problem.
Menelaos 12 Jul 2005, 18:18 Both are equally certain, but both could end up different? So both are equally uncertain? :-p
Yes my friend :) Both are equally certain, say 80%, but there's a 20% for each of them to end up different. And you said, this means that they're also equally uncertain. Ah, studying applied physics doesn't really help me communicate now, does it? :laugh:
I would have loved to see Kimi win the WDC this year..but it's going to be very difficult, despite what the points table try to suggest.
I too think it's pretty unlikely, but not because of the gap. Mostly because of the not-so-reliable McLarens. It wouldn't be SO weird if Alonso did not finish one of the remaining 8 races. So, if McLarens were reliable Raikkonen could get 10 points there (==>16 points) and then they could start taking 2 or 4 extra points per gp. But it's much more likely that Raikkonen will have to retire instead of Alonso in some of the remaining GPs. :(
pole2pole 12 Jul 2005, 18:18 I think the rules for this season make it difficult to forecast the winners. This ten place back rule for an engine change can shake things up and a retirement from a race which leads to qualifying early in the next race can have a disadvantage
We are lining ourselves up for 18 retirements every remaining race, with a Minardi 1-2 in each event.
Well, okay, maybe not.......
senna12 12 Jul 2005, 18:32 As long as the car is reliable, Fernando is too strong to be caught. As for the constructors, it is likely to come down to the performance of the "second" ;) drivers. On current form, you would say McLaren, as it is hard to know what to expect out of Fisi and/or his car.
As was said several times on Sunday it's not possible to 'stall' an F1 car, unless there is a software or other problem.
Well than someone is not doing their job, but nevertheless, I think Fisi would be on shaky ground if McLaren goes on to take this years WCC.
From McLaren's perspective, JPM should be on form now that he has that 1st win with his new team and Kimi has looked mighty impressive for a while now. If the McLaren stays reliable, it could get interesting.
ralf fan 12 Jul 2005, 20:21 WDC- Alonso is in a really strong position to become the youngest ever champion and the championship is Fernando's to lose. However I would like to see Kimi win it especially after the heartache of 2003 and the dismal 2004... i think at this moment Kimi is a more polished driver than Alonso...something that i'm sure will even out during the next year or two..... but i'm looking forward to some good championship battles between these two for the next few years to come....
WCC- I think Renault will eek this one out if everything goes according to plan.... Fisi will improve IMO and get some decent results and Alonso will/should win a couple more races. Mclaren will come very close...
Knowlesy 12 Jul 2005, 20:29 Alonso will win the WDC and he will bloody well deserve it. Only made one error all year, amazing considering his press on attitude. He's like Schumacher, with less errors. And he's charismatic too, which is perhaps irrelevant, but nice all the same.
Kimi would deserve it less so, although he would be a popular champion. He has been lightning, but a patchy start and Mercedes' recent unreliability has hampered things.
The constructors title will be shaded by McLaren I feel, they have the best car by a fair margin I feel. It's a case of whether Mercedes buck up their ideas, which I'm sure they will. They have been so reliable, these past two races have been so uncharacteristic. However, I wouldn't be all that surprised if Renault got the WCC. Fisi was excellent in the Brit GP, despite his pit bungle. If he keeps that up, Renault have a big chance.
So Alonso and McLaren for me. The driver of the moment and the car of the moment sharing the honours.
Inigo Montoya 12 Jul 2005, 21:06 Either of them would make a deserved champion, but I can't shake the feeling that Kimi is the better of the two drivers. I'm pulling for him. As for the constructor's, given Renault's Ferrari-like concentration on only providing one reliable car, I think McLaren will take it.
Aysedasi 12 Jul 2005, 21:30 I'm perfectly happy to see either of them win it - either would be a deserving champion, but I give the edge to Alonso. Same goes for the the teams - although McLaren could well be coming seriously good at just the right time. I'm going to go for RD's boys on the basis that they have the real experience in a fight like this.
djinvicta 12 Jul 2005, 21:42 Alonso deserves to win the WDC, but I would risk a tenner on JPM as an outsider, wolf in the pack. Hes got the car and is now on a flyer. The interest for me lies in KR and JPM, if reliability probs continue for Kimi, JPM could get close; who would Ron favour then? Both wont give way to the other. The other slight niggle is Alonsos Latin temper or impatience on the track when overtaking backmarkers or being chased fast (Montreal wall). He then tends to lose track time on marbles, brake locking etc, but he deserves the WDC. Fisi I think is gone at the end of season; not all his fault, but hes been here once too often, and Flav has the Latin bit too. World Team Championship should be McClaren, car is strong and JPM will keep pushing to catch up Kimi, who will respond lets hope with better reliability. The pressure is on for Alonso.
IL LEONE 12 Jul 2005, 21:44 If I had to put my money down then I would have to opt for an Alonso & Renault double whammy, although both WDC & WCC could be a close run thing.
One thing for sure is that if it is, then I think we are in for an even better second half period of the season than the first.
Here's hoping then :)
djinvicta 13 Jul 2005, 00:32 This MUST be the first year DC has not declared his chances of winning the WDC?
djinvicta 13 Jul 2005, 00:34 OK Ok Ill retract that; never said it,. else it wil start a thread weve read before..
Ralf's Girl 13 Jul 2005, 23:23 WDC: Alonso, he's been pretty much faultless this season. Raikkonen will run him close though.
WCC: more difficult. Renault have had the upper hand for the first half of the season, but as a few people have said, Fisichella could prove to be a liability. McLaren may well have the greater consistency over the remainder of the season, and for that reason I'll go for them.
Alonso, drivers.
McLaren should certainly pip the constructors.
VilleneuveTracy 14 Jul 2005, 09:13 Which title is considered more important? The WDC or the WCC?
WDC: Alonso
WCC: McLaren.
I believe that Raikkonen will outscore Alonso during the final 8 races but, barring a spate of bad luck for Alonso, the deficit Raikkonen faces is too great to overcome. With respect to the WCC picture the deficit McLaren faces is far more easier to overcome and Montoya will do much better than Fisichella during the second half of the season. What I will be looking for regarding JPM is whether he can consistently challenge Raikkonen and Alonso. He was great in Canada, Britain and looked to be on the way to a great run in the US GP before the debacle there. Perhaps he has finally adapted to Mclaren.
FPV GTHO 14 Jul 2005, 12:20 I think McLaren can outperform Renault for the rest of the season, but given the size of ALonso's lead, it would take something like Kimi 1st and JPM 2nd for the rest of the year and some failure on Renaults part for Kimi to win, so WDC - Alonso, WCC - McLaren
WDC: FA
WCC: McLaren
IMO McLaren's driver lineup is stronger than Renaults, as is their car - they would've had both titles I think if they had a more reliable car and got it working quicker - as one would really expect of a team as good as McLaren
BSchneiderFan 14 Jul 2005, 12:28 I don't see the WDC being particularly close. Alonso's lead is approaching 30 points, and he has a car which can (and may well) finish on the podium anywhere. So even if Kimi starts winning several races in a row, he might only be clawing back 2 or 4 points per race. And I don't think Alonso's won his last race of the year, either.
Perhaps contrary to a lot of people's opinions, I think Alonso's marginally the better driver. Raikkonen may be a touch quicker in terms of pace, but Alonso's cooler and more complete.
Shoe-maker 16 Jul 2005, 14:56 Alonso/Renault
ferrarifan 16 Jul 2005, 15:17 WDC - Alonso
WCC - McLaren
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