F1 2009: Your predictions
Will Brawn GP be on the podium at their first race?
The new season is almost upon us so it’s time for the traditional round of new season predictions.
Tackle these 15 questions on how the 2009 season will unfold and compare your answers with those of other F1 fans.
1. Will Brawn GP get a car on the podium in their first race?
2. How many cars will be classified at Melbourne?
3. Which driver will be the first to leave his team?
4. How many races will McLaren win?
5. Who will Fernando Alonso announce he is driving for in 2010?
6. Which teams will go all season without using KERS?
7. How many drivers will have to get their front wings replaced after the first lap at Melbourne?
8. Will Renault score more points than Red Bull-Renault?
9. Which drivers will win their home race/s?
10. Will Max Mosley win the FIA President election?
11. How many teams will announce before the final race they are leaving F1?
12. Which of BMW’s drivers will have the best season?
13. Will Ferrari win the constructors’ title for the 17th time?
14. Which driver will announce his retirement?
15. Who will win the drivers’ championship?
Earlier this week I wrote some predictions of my own for Planet-F1 – read them here.
Here’s my answers to the 15 questions above – post yours below:
1. Yes
2. 12
3. Nelson Piquet Jnr
4. Two
5. Ferrari
6. Brawn GP, Red Bull and Toro Rosso
7. Two
8. No
9. Felipe Massa
10. Yes
11. Two
12. Robert Kubica
13. Yes
14. Giancarlo Fisichella
15. Robert Kubica
More on F1 2009
MW said on 25th March 2009, 12:04
1. Yes
2. 14
3. Mark Webber
4. 3
5. Ferrari
6. Williams
7. 2
8. Yes
9. Hamilton, Alonso, Massa
10. No
11. 1
12. Kubica
13. No
14. Fisi
15. Alonso.
great questions!
Kovy said on 25th March 2009, 22:12
By the way – Red Bull has announced David Coulthard as reserve driver for the first few races, as Brendon Hartely hasn’t been cleared for a super license.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine) said on 25th March 2009, 22:56
Kovy – Hartley loses third driver role to Coulthard
Kovy said on 26th March 2009, 1:42
Thanks Keith, didn’t see you had the link there.
Richard Merk said on 25th March 2009, 12:10
1. Will Brawn GP get a car on the podium in their first race? Yes
2. How many cars will be classified at Melbourne? 18
3. Which driver will be the first to leave his team? Nakajima
4. How many races will McLaren win? 1
5. Who will Fernando Alonso announce he is driving for in 2010? Renault
6. Which teams will go all season without using KERS? Force India, Brawn GP
7. How many drivers will have to get their front wings replaced after the first lap at Melbourne? 2
8. Will Renault score more points than Red Bull-Renault? Yes
9. Which drivers will win their home race/s? Nico Rosberg (hopeful) and Jenson Button
10. Will Max Mosley win the FIA President election? Yes
11. How many teams will announce before the final race they are leaving F1? None
12. Which of BMW’s drivers will have the best season? Kubica
13. Will Ferrari win the constructors’ title for the 17th time? Yes
14. Which driver will announce his retirement? Rubens Barrichello, and Giancarlo Fisichella
15. Who will win the drivers’ championship? Kimi Raikkonen
Striay said on 25th March 2009, 12:10
1. yes
2. 12
3. Nakajima
4. 2
5. Ferrari 51% sure!
6. 2
7. 4
8. Yes
9. Massa,Alonso,Heidfield,Button.
10.Yes
11.1
12.Kubica
13. yes (i hope so)
14. Barichello
15. the ultimate question! Kimi Raikkonen hopefully
Andy said on 25th March 2009, 12:15
1. Will Brawn GP get a car on the podium in their first race? Yes
2. How many cars will be classified at Melbourne? 10
3. Which driver will be the first to leave his team? Sutil
4. How many races will McLaren win? 2
5. Who will Fernando Alonso announce he is driving for in 2010? Ferrari
6. Which teams will go all season without using KERS? Force India, Torro Rosso, Brawn
7. How many drivers will have to get their front wings replaced after the first lap at Melbourne? 4
8. Will Renault score more points than Red Bull-Renault? No
9. Which drivers will win their home race/s? None
10. Will Max Mosley win the FIA President election? Yes
11. How many teams will announce before the final race they are leaving F1? 1
12. Which of BMW’s drivers will have the best season? Quick Nick.
13. Will Ferrari win the constructors’ title for the 17th time? yes
14. Which driver will announce his retirement? Fisi & Rubens
15. Who will win the drivers’ championship? Raikkonen
pseudohendrix said on 25th March 2009, 12:15
1. Yes
2. 10
3. Nelsinho Piquet
4. 2
5. Ferrari
6. Brawn, Williams, Force India
7. 6
8. Yes
9. Fernando Alonso, Felipe Massa
10. Yes
11. 1
12. Robert Kubica
13. Yes
14. Giancarlo Fisichella
15. Kimi Raikkonen
CRM said on 25th March 2009, 12:18
1. Yes
2. 9
3. Nelson Piquet jr.
4. Three
5. Ferrari
6. Two (Toro Rosso, Force India)
7. Most of them
8. Yes
9. Massa, Vettel
10. Yes
11. None (hopefully)
12. Kubica
13. Yes
14. Barichello and Raikkonen
15. Massa
luky said on 25th March 2009, 12:18
1. No
2. 11
3. None
4. One
5. Ferrari
6. Four
7. None
8. Yes
9. Alonso, Vettel
10. No
11. Two
12. Robert Kubica
13. Yes
14. Giancarlo Fisichella
15. Alonso
Rob Wilson said on 25th March 2009, 12:21
15. Jenson Button.
Franz4 said on 25th March 2009, 12:21
1. No
2. 16
3. Nelsinho Piquet
4. 3
5. Renault
6. Force India
7. 5
8. Yes
9. Felipe Massa
10. Yes
11. 1
12. Robert Kubica
13. No
14. Barrichello/Fisichella
15. Kimi Raikkonen (I HOPE!!!!!)
Justin Chu said on 25th March 2009, 12:24
1.Yes
2.8
3.Sebestian Bourdais
4.1
5.Yes
6.Red Bull
7.3
8.No
9.Filipe Massa
10.No
11.None
12.Robert Kubica
13.Yes
14.Giancarlo Fisichella, Jarno Trulli
15.Kimi Raikkonen
Clive said on 25th March 2009, 12:25
1. Will Brawn GP get a car on the podium in their first race? Yes
2. How many cars will be classified at Melbourne? 12
3. Which driver will be the first to leave his team? Fisichella
4. How many races will McLaren win? 3
5. Who will Fernando Alonso announce he is driving for in 2010? Ferrari
6. Which teams will go all season without using KERS? Force India, Brawn GP, Toro Rosso
7. How many drivers will have to get their front wings replaced after the first lap at Melbourne? None
8. Will Renault score more points than Red Bull-Renault? Yes
9. Which drivers will win their home race/s? Button, Heidfeld and Massa
10. Will Max Mosley win the FIA President election? Yes
11. How many teams will announce before the final race they are leaving F1? One
12. Which of BMW’s drivers will have the best season? Heidfeld
13. Will Ferrari win the constructors’ title for the 17th time? No
14. Which driver will announce his retirement? Fisichella, Barrichello and Raikkonen
15. Who will win the drivers’ championship? Nick Heidfeld :D
Swaveck said on 25th March 2009, 12:46
#12 and #15.. Clive, you’re joking.. right (?) ;-)
Clive said on 25th March 2009, 13:07
Not at all, Swaveck. I’m sticking my neck out, which is what we’re all doing whenever we make a prediction. What would I be doing if I merely stated what was the most likely outcome? Playing it safe, that’s all – and anyone can do that.
Sure, there’s a lot of hope involved in my faith in Heidfeld – but there’s calculation too. I reckon BMW are doing their usual thing of not bothering with setting the fastest lap in testing and that the car will be much quicker come the races. Others seem to think so too because they’re going for Kubica as champ.
They’re doing that because Kubica seemed to be quicker than Heidfeld last year. But, considering that the F1.08 did not suit Heidfeld, he was very close to Kubica in the races. This year I am expecting the car to be more to Heidfeld’s taste (plus he’s lost a bit of weight) and I think he’ll be the better of the two Beemer boys as a result.
Add it up – fast, reliable car, quick and experienced driver – and you get Heidfeld as champ and probably BMW winning the constructors’. Yes, it’s a guess, but aren’t all the “Raikkonen for champ” guys gambling equally as much on the Ferrari being good and reliable?
todd said on 25th March 2009, 13:34
i’d agree with that, Heidfeld is supremely quick and he didn’t suit that car too well. with the change of driving style required this year I’d not be surprised to see a role reversal, kubica struggle and play #2 and Heidfeld get the more points.
Clare msj said on 25th March 2009, 15:05
I compeletly agree with you Clive – I have very high hopes for Heidfeld this year – there are many reasons why I think he will do well, most of which you covered there. I put five whole pounds on him to win the title the other week – he has relatively long odds compared to many of those who I would consider to be main rivals – seem the bookies underestimate him too. i think will be close with him and Kubica, but i beleive he will have the upper hand come the end of the season – just.
JonA said on 25th March 2009, 12:27
1. Yes
2. 16
3. Buemi
4. 4
5. Ferrari
6. None of them
7. 4
8. Yes
9. Massa, Button
10. Yes (sadly)
11. None
12. Kubica
13. No
14. Fisi and Reubens
15. Button
David said on 25th March 2009, 12:29
1. Will Brawn GP get a car on the podium in their first race? No
2. How many cars will be classified at Melbourne? 11
3. Which driver will be the first to leave his team? Bourdais
4. How many races will McLaren win? 4
5. Who will Fernando Alonso announce he is driving for in 2010? Renault
6. Which teams will go all season without using KERS? Force India, Toro Rosso, Brawn
7. How many drivers will have to get their front wings replaced after the first lap at Melbourne? 0
8. Will Renault score more points than Red Bull-Renault? Yes
9. Which drivers will win their home race/s? Alonso
10. Will Max Mosley win the FIA President election? No
11. How many teams will announce before the final race they are leaving F1? 1
12. Which of BMW’s drivers will have the best season? Nick
13. Will Ferrari win the constructors’ title for the 17th time? yes
14. Which driver will announce his retirement? Rubens
15. Who will win the drivers’ championship? Raikkonen
Reply
wisiu said on 25th March 2009, 12:33
1.No
2.16
3.Nelson Piquet Jr
4.6
5. Renault
6. None
7. 1
8.Yes
9. Massa
10. Yes
11.One
12. Kubica
13.Yes
14.Fisichella, Raikkonen, Barrichello
15. R.Kubica
Loki said on 25th March 2009, 12:36
1. Will Brawn GP get a car on the podium in their first race?
Yes (Diffuser issue pending)
2. How many cars will be classified at Melbourne?
8-12
3. Which driver will be the first to leave his team?
Piquet.
4. How many races will McLaren win?
2
5. Who will Fernando Alonso announce he is driving for in 2010?
Renault-but-hoping-Ferrari
6. Which teams will go all season without using KERS?
Force India, but probably none
7. How many drivers will have to get their front wings replaced after the first lap at Melbourne?
4
8. Will Renault score more points than Red Bull-Renault?
Aye
9. Which drivers will win their home race/s?
Felipe (although Rubens may have a good result if his Brawn is still up to the task by then). Lewis needs his McLaren up to speed by Silverstone anyway, to stand a chance at the title – so it’s a possibility.
10. Will Max Mosley win the FIA President election?
Probably.
11. How many teams will announce before the final race they are leaving F1?
1 – Toyota.
12. Which of BMW’s drivers will have the best season?
Tough one – maybe Nick
13. Will Ferrari win the constructors’ title for the 17th time?
Yeah!
14. Which driver will announce his retirement?
Fisico