Zip... Zap... Zoom!!!

And we are back to that time again. The sound of V8's and cars rocketing past the camera's
been missing for a long time now. So has been my blog. And I know this is late posting considering the fact that there has been so much going on with testing and swapping. But these are initial installation levels of the new cars and new drivers. The real test doesnt start for 2 more weeks. So I guess I am back on track at the right time.

This year already looks to be the most promising and most exciting season in F1 for the past 16 years for only one fact - No Schumacher on the grid. I'll miss those moments where he pulls off time and closes in on the leading car like a hound chasing a wounded rabbit. Those spectacular passes and awesome pitting strategies will be missed. You can love him, you can hate him but you definitely cant avoid him - in one way or the other. Hope to catch a glimpse of him on the pitwalls soon.


SCUDERIA FERRARI MARLBORO F1


The F2007 looks stunning!!! Nothing more Nothing less. Though I hate to admit with Tyaga that the livery isnt as cool as it used to be couple of years back. The main difference being the Vodafone is missing and ALICE TELECOM being added into it. The Marlboro still lives on the livery albeit in a very different and cooler symbol. The car as such has been trimmed down and shaped up to house the new gearbox and fantastic aero design!!! Though nobody knows the final aero config until the qualifying lap in Melbourne [and Ferrari does a good job in making it invisible from the press and competitors] the major difference is the new front wing. The triple blade design is gone and the double blade is back with a slightly smaller upward-fixed short wing to force the drag onto the front tires.



The rear wing is shortened and triple-decked like before but its been bent and modified to keep the car on ground at higher speeds in corners than ever. My sole guess for this change is cos of the Fiery Finn - He hits the curb very hard on turns. Schumi does the same in his own class - looking after the car and the curb. Kimi has no regard to both!!! But he is all set to improve on that front now. Overall the F2007 is a real hot babe!!







I've always admired the livery n looks. Chrome aint my favorite but when you see the car in front of your eyes for real - in touching distance - its mesmerizing. You cant stop admiring it.[I couldnt move of the Mclaren podium until someone pulled me off] Its the same design and bulky rear from MP4-21 is on the MP4-22 again. The Mclaren package has always been the best on the grid for a long time. This year with Alonso piloting it and Mercedes Benz trying all they can to prove their reliablity - it looks like a real contender this time around.

The car has always been good on a single lap and kept topping the time sheets throughout the winter testing and qualifying. But nobody - not even Ron dennis is sure how its gonna handle the race distance until it does!! And the real testing starts in a weeks time. The Vodafone adds more red to the livery and lesser chrome on the overalls. I've always said this and will say it again. Mclaren's are old war horses. When they are all set for a kill, they will crush the opponent so hard that the opponent takes more than a long time to recover!!! If F2007 was a real hot babe - MP4-22
is the German Supermodel!!!

OTHERS:

Renault looks sick. Spill some orange juice on a white paper and pour some blue ink and you get the reanult livery. They have been topping the time sheets now and then but apart from their concrete engine and Heikki nothing to look for from the Renaults. March 18th will answer .Honda has promised a new livery this time. They have been running their SA-07 with the usual black shade for testing.I doubt whether we would see the new livery until Bahrain or even later during the Melbourne qualifying.No major changes to other teams as well.

The teams has been testing in the winter of Europe. Each team has a top time to their credit and Ferrari and Mclaren pounding on each other already. But this is so different from the time the cars actually run in the races. The temperatures will be soaring to new highs on each circuit and the cars are sensitive and needs to tuned and twitched to suit that kinda environment. The real-time race like testing is commencing the sun-baked bahrain in a week and only this will throw some light on the performances from each team. Ferrari has always faired better in the extreme conditions. Sun and Rain. Mclaren is moderate throughout. So you never know until its midway thro the season.

Alonso has been the same motor mouth all along. Criticising both Mclaren and Renault. The praises he has been conveying for Ferrari is only a mind game he wants to play. If Schumi was calm and cool about it all by himself, Kimi is deaf and dumb about it under the scrutiny of Todt. Otherwise too Kimi doesnt speak out on F1. Good to see him on the reds and I wish his long run proves good this time and the elusive driver championship comes to him this year.

FINAL VERDICT

Its going to be a F2007 vs MP4-22 for the title this year. Other teams might as well top the podium on a few occasions. But the most unpredictable season I've ever witnessed in my life is all set to zip-zap-zoom on the tracks in exactly a month from now on!! Crossing my fingers I wait for March 16th. So shall you!!!

PS - Trying to get to 3 races this time. USGP, Canadian and British. Hope things work out this time and my health stays good unlike last time in Silverstone!!! Adios Amigos!!!