| The 2008 Formula One season has just ended in | | | | disaster would be an understatement. It is hard to |
| what can only be called dramatic fashion. Lewis | | | | imagine the powers that be at Honda will keep |
| Hamilton rescued his championship by passing a | | | | funding such an embarrassment for much longer. |
| slick shod Toyota in the rain in the last corner of | | | | The golden ray of hope for the team is Ross |
| the last lap of the season. It simply does not get | | | | Brawn, who did some magic at Ferrari. He has to |
| any better or crazier than that. | | | | have something to work with however, and the |
| We know that Hamilton has one the Driver's | | | | current Honda set up is just all wrong. Whether |
| Championship and Ferrari the Constructor's | | | | the company is willing to spend the money and |
| Championship this year, but what about the 2009 | | | | time on two to four years of development is |
| season. Will it be more of the same or can we | | | | doubtful at best given the economic situation in |
| expect more changes such as the rise of BMW | | | | the world. A betting man says Honda stays with it |
| this year? | | | | through 2009, but leaves F1 in 2010 unless a |
| The answer is we can expect 2009 to be a very | | | | major breakthrough is made. |
| interesting year. Why? It comes down to a simple | | | | The distressing sign of the 2008 season will be |
| fact. To save money and make passing more | | | | the state of the Williams team. One of the great |
| plausible, the cars of the 2009 season will look | | | | teams of Formula One, the fall has been long and |
| nothing like those of the 2008 season. Many of | | | | hard over the last few years. The team simply |
| the aero pieces used to create down force are | | | | cannot compete with the money being invested |
| going to be banned. The goal is to give drivers the | | | | by manufacturers. With the economy going in the |
| ability to pass without being hurt by dirty air. | | | | tank, it appears to be only a matter of time |
| Heck, we are even going back to slick tires. | | | | before Williams calls it a day. In fact, they team |
| This clean slate means the teams cannot just | | | | just lost a big sponsor in Royal Bank of Scotland, |
| continue to develop the 2008 cars. They basically | | | | which has fallen in the banking crisis. Simply put, |
| have to start from scratch and this raises some | | | | where is the Williams team going to get money? |
| very interesting issues regarding who will be on | | | | The day the great Frank Williams is out of |
| pace next season and who will not. | | | | Formula One will be a sad day indeed. |
| My pick for the team to surprise is Renault. | | | | Indeed, Formula One stands at a key point in |
| Fernando Alonso is many things good and bad, | | | | time. There have always been dominant teams |
| but he is undisputedly a great car developer. Look | | | | and also rans, but the ability of the also rans to |
| at how the 2008 Renault developed from a | | | | even form a team is now in question. The loss of |
| pathetic middle of the pack car to a race winner. | | | | Super Aguri this year was hardly a surprise, but |
| Alonso looked particularly optimistic at the closing | | | | more teams could be in trouble. While Force India |
| press conference for the Brazilian Grand Prix, | | | | will remain since it is the play thing of a billionaire, |
| which makes you think Renault could be a serious | | | | one of the Red Bull teams may be sold or |
| player again in 2009. BMW is also a team to | | | | liquidated. The ability of Williams to continue to |
| watch, but their fall off at the end of 2008 | | | | take a financial beating is also very questionable. |
| cannot be dismissed without concern. | | | | If Formula One loses many of its privateers, the |
| What team could be looking at a bit of a fall down | | | | races will become a farce. A twelve car lineup of |
| the pecking order? The answer is McLaren. The | | | | McLaren, Ferrari, Renault, BMW, Toyota and |
| team has gobs of money, but one has to look at | | | | Honda would be a joke and it is doubtful many |
| the last five years to see the potential problem. | | | | would tune in to watch the races. At the same |
| Before Alonso arrived at McLaren for his one | | | | time, F1 is all about technology, so standardizing |
| blustery year, the team was not competitive with | | | | the technology to save money seems a bit of a |
| Ferrari. In his one year, they became so and | | | | joke. Ferrari and other teams have already |
| probably not because of the plans they allegedly | | | | threatened to leave if a standardized engine is |
| stole from the company. | | | | mandated. The issue of costs versus technology |
| Now that Alonso is gone and a new car must be | | | | will continue to be a major issue over the next |
| developed, can McLaren do it? The engineers are | | | | few years and one suspects F1 in 2011 will look |
| up to it, but the input of a quality driver is critical. | | | | nothing like it did in 2009. |
| Schumacher had his team at Ferrari. Alonso | | | | So, what will 2009 ultimately produce? I'll say |
| clearly has it at Renault. Lewis Hamilton can drive | | | | Renault and BMW both give McLaren and Ferrari a |
| the wheels off a car, but the question now is can | | | | run for their money. Alonso wins the Driver's |
| he develop one? If he can, he could go on a | | | | Championship, but a weak second driver for |
| Schumacher like streak of winning. If he cannot, | | | | Renault results in Ferrari taking the Constructor's |
| McLaren could fall back. | | | | title. Unfortunately, it will also be the last year for |
| What about the other teams? The most | | | | Williams in Formula One. |
| interesting team is Honda. To say the team is a | | | | |