Post your thoughts on each team

[MiniMe]

In the same vein as the excellent thread on our thoughts on each driver, what are your thoughts on each team, and your advice to their team bosses?

Mine:

* Renault - Rapidly becoming my favourite team (I'm sick of Ferrari, and Minardi doesn't have the budget). My wish is that Renault will take advantage of Mercedes' inconsistency and take over third spot next year, challenging for the title soon after. Flavio, put Webber in one of these much improving cars and let's see what Webber and Renault are really made of.

* McLaren/Mercedes - A team famous for taking pride in its technical proficiency, yet they are not a cohesive team like Williams and Ferrari. McLaren is a privateer team with a great engine supplier, an example for the other privateers. But why aren't the engineers and the drivers on the same page?

* Minardi - Give them an engine and a budget for wind tunneling. I do like Bernie's idea of letting the major teams sell their engines and technology and Minardi will only benefit from such a move. But who am I kidding, they are Minardi afterall, the permanent backmarkers. Stoddart, either go hard with the AustralAsian connection (Asiatech & Malaysia & Aussie,Aussie,Aussie) or find a 2nd hand engine (Ferrari would be nice) or an engine supplier that needs some development work = Renault / Toyota?

* Jag as it is, is a dog. Get rid of Lauda and then hire the best team their huge budget will buy, and then stick with the same management for more than a few months! Yes Jaguar, being in F1 DOES sell more street cars, so let's go for it!

* Toyota - put some mouth where your money is; I hope they develop into something.

* Arrows - bye bye Walkinshaw, you've played too many games, told too many lies!

* Jordan - Eddie, Eddie, Eddie, what are you doing? You had the 'most improved player' award two years ago and you've squandered the momentum to build a great team. Eddie hasn't gotten his mind in gear since he stupidly sacked HHF.

* Williams - yeah, GREAT team and, with Mercedes, the only ones capable of taking on Ferrari. Frank's day will come again - the team is cohesive, has great drivers and a great car. Professionalism personified.

* Ferrari - Absolutely deserve their reign. They thought it through, figured when they would be No.1, got a Champion driver that talks with his engineers, they got engineers that listen and act on the advice, etc etc. And they have great merchandise!

* Sauber - Mid field team with back marker drivers in Massa and Heidfeld. Its a wonder there isn't more talk of their budget problems, as in Minardi, Arrows & Jordan. If they don't get the results, their sponsors must be left wondering, why?

* BAR - well, they've had every chance. They had Jacques in his prime but didn't give him a car, and have been going backwards ever since. They need to kindle some fire in their belly - do they want to be a back marker, or are they going to go up the ranks? They need to decide this, and then commit themselves either way, and not languish like they have been.

[Lee Janotta]

Ferrari: Bunch of lousy cheaters! Ross Braun and Rory Bryne operated outside the rules at Benneton as well, and will continue to do so as long as the FIA keeps turning a blind eye, and they've got Michael to drive for them. Enzo's rolling in his grave...

McLaren: Adrian Newey is an absolute genius!!! Ron Dennis plays too many head games with his drivers, though, and isn't often able to bring them to the top of their game as a result. The Mercedes engine seems to be regaining it's form after faltering since the middle of last year.

Williams: The racer's team. The only link we have anymore to the great English privateer teams that once dominated the sport (Lotus and Tyrrel in particular). Sir Frank has brought us some brilliant drivers, but never manages to hold on to them. The technical department is still trying to recover from Newey's departure, and plays too conservative a game in design.

Renault: Moving up. Aggressive designs in all areas. Flavio's a complete arse, but he's gotten results in the past. Is holding the team back now, though, insisting on lining his own pockets by using drivers he represents. Too much politics here, Renault will need to remove him before long if the team's to flourish.

Sauber: You've got to love Peter Sauber. This team has more heart than any other on the grid. Losing the best elements of their technical staff to richer teams, though, and will start steadily sliding backwards.

Jordan: Eddie's got his head wedged firmly up his arse, it seems. Zero stability in this team, they'll be stuck permanently in the midfield until they can create some solid foundations to build on.

BAR: What a mess! All the money in the world and no results to show for it. Craig Pollack may be a nice guy and a good agent, but he was an abject failure as a team principal. Dave Richards and full attention from Honda will bring improvements, as will new blood in the technical department. Driving lineup couldn't be better for next year, but they have to find some way to get Jacques inspired. A car that can score points will be a good start.

Arrows: Tom Walkinshaw should be in prison for all the fraud he's committed. The team's got some great technical talent, the car is really very good, and was created with minimal resources (had to eyeball the aero package!!!). Hopeless, though... Like Sauber's best engineers, they'll probably all find jobs at Toyota/Jaguar/BAR, teams that can pay them top dollar for their talents.

Jaguar: Niki Lauda isn't fit to herd sheep!!! The team has a huge budget and a good engine, but nothing else going for them. Needs a massive injection of new blood, especially in leadership. Rahal was going in the right direction, all progress has now been undone by the Rat.

Toyota: I don't like Ove Andersson. Seems far too conservative. The idea of a Japanese team being run out of Germany just seems wrong. Excellent engine, I'd like to see what the car's really capable of, as Salo and McNish are certainly driving below it's potential.

Minardi: Entirely hopeless. Too desperate to keep their budget in the black to ever make any meaningful progress. I think they're being ostracised for bringing in the festering boil on F1's back that is Alex Yoong. I've seen worse team bosses than Paul Stoddard, though. Certainly puts his money where his mouth is.

[Heidfeld fan]

Ferrari: a great team that has shown and proven why they have been number one for the past three years. I believe they will show this next year to

McLaren: a team that is sort of on the downfall since Mika left. DC isn't bad but is being outperformed by Kimi. They are still a good team, but falling to the bottom of the big three

Williams: they are a team that are in the developing stages of becoming a great team again. I think that they will only get better next year. Montoya needs to learn patience, while Ralf needs to get better finishes.

Renault: made a big mistake by letting go Button, they are a good team and are one of the best of the rest. Trulli needs to step it up while Alonso will have a lot of pressure on him to fill Buttons shoes

Sauber:not a bad team, and fighting with Renault to become one of the best of the rest teams. Heidfeld has helped them gain respect with his drives over the past couple of years.As long as they have Heidfeld they will consistently score points

Jordan: They are a team that is rebuilding right now. I think that they have the capabilities of becoming a good team, but EJ said they have been losing money. Fisi has made the ride somewhat respectable while Sato is still developing

BAR: Another developing team that with the right components could be the best of the rest type team. JV isn't bad, but JV isn't the type of driver to develop a team. Panis is good, b ut Button will be a nice addition to the team and hopefully will help them

Jaguar: a team that has been struggling ever since Lauda took it over. They need to give the reigns back to Jackie Stewart, because he had the team going in the right direction. Irv should retire, and De La Rosa is okay, but the car hinders their ability.

Toyota: a team that is developing. They have way to much pressure on them to perform. When your developing a team don't pressure guys like Salo and McNish because their equipment isn't the best, both drivers maybe gone after this year

Minardi: May not make it to 2003. They had to pick up Yoong because of his budget, and that would be the only reason they would keep him. The team is not developing and will rather exit F1 or still stay as a back of the grid sort of team as long as they're in existence. Yoong will be gone after this year, and I wouldn't be suprised if Webber left for a better team

Arrows: Its a sad situation that is going on their with a driver like Frentzen there. Walkinshaw has shown that he is all talk and no show, he said he would make the team better when he bought the team. He has only made it worse and most likely Frentzen will be gone after this year. Bernoldi may find somewhere else to go. I would be suprised if they are at Melbourne in 2003

[M Coupe]

Ferrari - The best at the moment but only a 1 car team. Was for Schumi, will be for Barrichello. Very dubious tactics sometimes.

Williams - On the up, hindered in their battle by the Michelins more than helped. Good package will be at the top again soon.

McLaren - Suffering slightly from resting on their laurels and concentrating a bit too much on a driver who upped and left. Ferrari take note.

Renault - On the up, however about to be destroyed by Flabio who is using the team to further his own gains, (Jobs for the boys) Renault will realise too late and kick him out.

Sauber - Does a good job with less money than most, very different approach by basing themselves in Switzerland, which seems to work. Think they are too in 'bed' with Ferrari.

Jordan - Whats happened?? They seemed to be on the way up, Works engine, good driver etc, but the whole thing has gone to pot. Honda engine is poor.

BAR - Seem to still be improving and are working well with what they have. Honda need to improve and the management team are the right choice for improvement.

Jaguar - How long before Ford pull the plug. Niki will be out which could be a good move but will mean yet more instability. Stewart were the best years for the team, bring Jackie and Paul back.

Arrows - Will change owners again, but a good package, shows Jaguar how to use the Cossie engines. Hope the survive. Poor money management.

Minardi - Please someone give them a decent engine, and some sponsorship so they can tell Yoong to F*** off. Good team with no money.

Toyota - First year and fairly respectable until recent reliability problems. On a definate learning curve as shown by mistakes which cost them points (McNish pitstop). Can only move further up the grid.



The best thing this year is that every team has points, something which hasn't happened for along time. Just wish there were at least 4 more teams to talk about (Prost, Lotus, Brabham, etc)

[f1manoz]

Ferrari - Best car, best team. Fantastic reliability, well, for one car at least. The other is just put on the track because it has to be there.

BMW-Williams - Something has gone wrong since last year. Engine is nowhere near as dominant and the chassis eats up it's tyres too much. There have been other mistakes as well this year but the team.

McLaren - Another fantastic design by Newey, but the Mercedes engine has been the achilles heel this year. Simply not powerful enough. But one of the best organisations.

Sauber - Struggling for results now that Renault are on pace. The car is just an evolution of last year, and we all know the deal on the Ferrari engine. But the team are still capable of good results.

Renault - Doing well at the moment. Chassis is pretty good but their race at the Hockehmheim showed their engine isn't as good as first thought. But considering their experience and success, they will get to the front.

Jordan - Started out poorly both engine and chassis wise, but things have picked up. Chassis has improved and is certainly more drivable, as has the engine which has certainly increased in grunt, but they still have a long way to go.

BAR - Much the same as Jordan.

Jaguar - Pathetic. The only good thing about this team is the Cosworth engine. The chassis is utter garbage. And with the team of engineers they have, you'd think they could deliver a better car.

Arrows - With more money, this team could be doing things. The chassis is a little ripper, and the Cosworth is certainly a good engine.

Minardi - Still struggling at the rear. Chassis is not as good as previous attempts, due to loss of Brunner, and the Asiatech is down on power to everything. But Minardi still have a lot of heart.

Toyota - Big bucks operation not expected to fail. First up effort about what expected, with niggling little problems here and there. But both the chassis and engine were good. Team in general still developing.