F1 Preview: Williams, Red Bull, Toyota, Honda
Mark Webber says he expects a tough fight for P6 to P13 this year. Indeed, winter testing times have been close between these teams, so who exactly will come out as best of the midfield teams?
Williams
Williams have done everything they can to keep Nico Rosberg, one of the revelations of 2007 (no driver trounced his team mate as much as Nico Wurz. The drubbing ended the Austrian’s career.) But Williams know this year they have to do something miraculous to keep him beyond 2009. Thankfully, their pre-season testing suggests they might be doing that. Expect Williams to trouble the big-budget teams of BMW and Renault.
Oh yes, we forgot to mention Williams’ other driver, Kazuki Nakajima. Who? Exactly.
Red Bull
Red Bull, in theory a team of youth and vitality, return with eternal number two David Coulthard and Mark ‘Oh, what might have been’ Webber. Both are solid and reliable, but considering the millions that Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz is pouring into the team, something is very wrong here.
Honda
Honda couldn’t have had a worse 2007 - the only way 2008 could be any worse would be if they drove in reverse. Early indications are that, in fact, using the reverse gear may not be such a bad option. Button impressed on the rare occasions that the car allowed him to, but can he keep that motivation up this year? Now that Ross Brawn (the man who took Schumacher to all seven of his world titles) is in charge, expectations are high. Just don’t expect it to be Barrichello that delivers - even members of his own team want him to retire.
Toyota
The arrival of Timo Glock makes it a perfect three-out-of-three GP2 champions to make the step up to F1 (though he has actually already tasted F1 during a poor performance at Jordan in 2004). Will his second attempt have the same impact his predecessors Rosberg and Hamilton have had? Toyota certainly think so, as they went to the courts to free him from his BMW contract. Certainly, some young blood is what Toyota needs after having plumbed for experience over youthful energy in recent years.
Though the Toyota car must fit Jarno Trulli, now entering his fourth year with Toyota, like a well-worn shoe, many still expect Glock to surprise the veteran Italian. If he does, Trulli may find this to be his final year in F1.
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