Originally Posted by
ramesh
Iam really exited about the new season and all the positive talk about Ferrari
Autosport predicts F1 2017
There is fresh optimism that Formula 1 could have a proper fight at the front of the field again in 2017. On the eve of the new season, Autosport's panelists have their say
Published on Monday March 20th 2017
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Hope springs eternal. This time a year ago, the motorsport world was brimming with optimism that Ferrari would take the fight to Mercedes. Twelve months later, and the situation is remarkably similar.
Unlike in 2016, though, there are sweeping rule changes to assist the neutral fans' desired overhaul of the Mercedes dominance of F1's turbo-hybrid era. So, back for 2017 is the Autosport writers' panel's prediction of how the championship battle will play out.
The method is simple, tried and tested: we all pitch our top 10 and then calculate a combined overall result using the F1 points system. Here are the results.
THE PANEL: Ben Anderson (Grand Prix Editor), Gary Anderson (Technical Consultant), Edd Straw (Editor-in-Chief), Kevin Turner (Autosport Magazine Editor) Scott Mitchell (Features Editor), Karun Chandhok (Ex-F1 Driver), Dieter Rencken (Special Contributor), Jonathan Noble (Motorsport.com Formula 1 Editor), Anthony Rowlinson (Editorial Director), Adam Cooper (Special Contributor), Damien Smith (European Editor-in-Chief), Stuart Codling (Executive Editor), Matt James (Motorsport News Editor)
10th: CARLOS SAINZ
Top prediction: 8th (Dieter Rencken, Kevin Turner, Scott Mitchell)
BEN ANDERSON (@BenAndersonAuto): The Toro Rosso will carry a bit too much drag to be competitive everywhere, but Sainz will qualify strongly, and race well enough to bag lower points finishes here and there. Expect him to score big on the lower-speed street circuits, and tracks like Barcelona and Silverstone too, which will prove just enough to break him into the top 10.
KEVIN TURNER (@KRT917): One of the stars of 2016 seems like he may have a better car this season. If Renault can make real progress on its engine - and find some more reliability - the Toro Rosso could end up being as good as it looks. If it is, Sainz will make the most of it and make a strong case for a chance at a bigger team in 2018.
DIETER RENCKEN (@RacingLines): With a stronger car the Spaniard would feature in the top five, but still he gets on with it despite a car disadvantage. A first podium this year for the Toro Rosso driver?
ADAM COOPER (@AdamCooperF1): The Toro Rosso looked interesting in testing, even if its ultimate pace wasn't quite obvious yet. Sainz is getting better and better, and I expect him to outscore Daniil Kvyat.
9th: NICO HULKENBERG
Top prediction: 7th (Gary Anderson)
BEN ANDERSON: Formula 1's new rules will play to Hulkenberg's strengths and he'll prove to be the out-and-out fastest driver in F1's ultra-competitive midfield. Renault will start slowly, but out-develop its rivals, and Hulkenberg will score consistently through the second half of the season as Renault finishes fifth in the constructors' race.
EDD STRAW (@EddStrawF1): Renault should come on more strongly as the season progresses, and if Hulkenberg gets himself as together as he should do in his first year with a manufacturer team, he will be able to make the best of the package. Hulkenberg needs to be at his best to make the most of his chance, and if he is he can steal into the top 10.
KARUN CHANDHOK (@KarunChandhok): The Renault looks much better than it was last year and I'm really intrigued to see how their in-season development goes with more resources available. Nico will be a good team leader and capable of maximising the potential of the package.
STUART CODLING (@CoddersF1): His tireless commitment to backing the wrong horse continues. Chose Renault because he wanted to work with Frederic Vasseur - not knowing Fred was being manoeuvred out of the door. Whoops!
GARY ANDERSON: In my opinion he's one of the best drivers in the pitlane and it's a shame that he never got that chance with a works team. Now he's with Renault, he will be in a better position mentally, but I don't think the car this year will be up to his talent. He just needs to wring its neck and then he might have the car he needs for 2018.
8th: SERGIO PEREZ
Top prediction: 7th (Karun Chandhok; Edd Straw; Kevin Turner; Damien Smith)
BEN ANDERSON: I expect this season to be a bit tougher for Force India, and for Perez, as the nature of the formula shifts away from tyre management towards outright speed and downforce. Perez will still do well enough to score points regularly, probably even grab a podium early on, and Force India will race well enough consistently enough to cling to fourth place in the championship.
ADAM COOPER: Force India had a relatively low-key time in testing but the car looked solid, and of course the Mercedes package will always be a boost. Perez is a solid performer and will always bring the car home, and while Ocon has great potential, I think the more experienced man will score more.
JONATHAN NOBLE (@NobleF1): A tougher year than Perez might have hoped for, but even so he has every chance of maintaining momentum and gunning for the odd podium finish.
ANTHONY ROWLINSON (@Rowlinson_F1): Three podium finishes and touted again as a 'future top-team driver'. Signs 2018 Force India contract.
7th: FELIPE MASSA
Top prediction: 6th (Dieter Rencken)
DIETER RENCKEN: The Brazilian has every motivation to prove that F1 had no right overlooking him for this year, but he isn't getting any younger. Still, he will grab his last shot at a Williams drive with both hands.
EDD STRAW: The Williams looks strong, and while there are question marks over whether the out-of-retirement Massa was the best choice, he has the experience to bang in consistent points finishes. But he remains a wild card, because last year his performances were unconvincing when it was clear he was going to be out of F1 at the end of the year. The fear is that the same happens in 2017.
SCOTT MITCHELL (@ScottAutosport): These new cars suit him. It's easy to forget how spectacular 2008-spec Massa was - and one of his best friends in F1, Williams performance chief Rob Smedley, reckons that's what we'll get this year.
MATT JAMES (@MattJMNews): He has offloaded his bus pass to Nico Rosberg and ridden in to 'rescue' Williams. The car is fast, but a top-six finish in the drivers' championship will be the best Massa can hope for.
DAMIEN SMITH (@Damien__Smith): He'll enjoy his final season and be unspectacularly mediocre. Again.
6th: KIMI RAIKKONEN
Top prediction: Champion (Anthony Rowlinson)
EDD STRAW: It could be a very close top six in the championship, if Red Bull comes on as expected. While Raikkonen's qualifying was stronger in the second half of last year and he scored well relative to Vettel, his peaks were not those of the Kimi of old. If it's the same again, that could leave him crowded out of the top five.
KEVIN TURNER: There's little reason to think Raikkonen will do anything different to what he has done in recent years: score points and drive consistently, a bit slower than his team-mate. He'll finish fourth if Ferrari's edge over Red Bull is maintained all year, but I think the quality drivers in the two RB13s will take them ahead if the gap closes.
STUART CODLING: You should never read too much into testing, especially since Ferrari almost inevitably shows well and then goes on to disappoint, but Kimi looked happy in the new car. He might be motivated enough to do the business in what's probably his last year in the sport.
DAMIEN SMITH: We could see some 'old Kimi' performances this year, but week in week out? I doubt it.
ANTHONY ROWLINSON: Let's party like it's 1999. Sebastian Vettel falls off his push-bike and dislocates a shoulder in an Alpine training accident near his Swiss home. Seb is forced to miss four grands prix, making Kimi Raikkonen de facto lead driver for a Ferrari team that has delivered on its pre-season promise. The Scuderia pulls together to back its last world champ for a stunning second title run, ten years after his first. Of course it'll never happen, but...
5th: MAX VERSTAPPEN
Top prediction: 2nd (Gary Anderson, Jonathan Noble, Matt James)
KARUN CHANDHOK: F1's most exciting new talent since Lewis Hamilton was superb in 2016, but we must remember that he was regularly outqualified by his team-mate last year. Since overtaking will be more difficult in 2017, he'll have to get on top of that.
EDD STRAW: Verstappen will not be far behind Ricciardo, but he's still a little behind on experience and there might be the odd error (albeit not as many as some think). Verstappen is a class act, and like Ricciardo, if the Red Bull improves he will be right up there in the battle for the title.
GARY ANDERSON: He's a very talented individual. He has the speed, the racecraft and now the experience. The only thing that could let him down would be the Renault power unit, but although it won't be the best in the pit lane, Verstappen and Red Bull should be able to bridge the deficit.
SCOTT MITCHELL: Red Bull will surely match anything the manufacturer teams can offer in the development race, but over a season Verstappen will have to raise his game in qualifying if he's to defeat team-mate Ricciardo - let alone anyone else in a top car.
MATT JAMES: Unstoppable talent, and an unstoppable career trajectory. Seems to have the upper hand over Ricciardo already, and is now ready to set his sights on bigger foe.
4th: DANIEL RICCIARDO
Top prediction: 3rd (Dieter Rencken, Ben Anderson, Damien Smith)
DIETER RENCKEN: Arguably the best driver of the current crop, the Australian will again be let down by a power deficit from Renault even if the Red Bull chassis proves up to scratch. He will win races, though.
DAMIEN SMITH: Despite Ferrari's testing form, I still reckon Red Bull will be Merc's closest challenger - and Ricciardo will outperform Verstappen again over a season.
BEN ANDERSON: Everyone will expect Max Verstappen to blow Ricciardo away this season, but the wily Australian will use all of his natural qualifying speed and calm under pressure to remain just about ahead. He'll win in Monaco and Singapore, and come on strong late in the season as Red Bull wins the development war, but will ultimately just fall short thanks to a slow start with an underpowered engine.
KEVIN TURNER: Red Bull was underwhelming in testing, but it's hard not to think it will be stronger when things get serious. Ricciardo is a class act and deserves a title-challenging car. He'll marginally pip his talented team-mate by avoiding headline-grabbing scrapes.
ADAM COOPER: Before the Barcelona tests Red Bull was widely considered a title contender, but we didn't see much pure pace in Spain to back that up - and there were some Renault issues. Both partners have the potential to raise their game, and no one will be better than Red Bull at finding aero performance, so the team may get stronger and stronger, but it might be too late. Will Ricciardo outscore Verstappen? I honestly can't split them...
3rd: VALTTERI BOTTAS
Top prediction: 2nd (Damien Smith)
KARUN CHANDHOK: Bottas looked pretty comfortable in his new car in testing, but ultimately I'm not convinced that across the season he's going to beat Lewis.
BEN ANDERSON: Bottas will take time to fully find his feet at Mercedes, after spending his entire career so far at a much smaller team, but he will gather momentum steadily and really push Hamilton in the second half of the year. By that time he'll be out of title contention, though, so will have to play rear gunner, but he'll take enough poles and race wins to help Mercedes retain its constructors' crown.
EDD STRAW: Bottas will be better than many people think, but I suspect it will take him a little time to get fully up to speed - and used to the challenge of having someone as relentless as Hamilton as his team-mate. There will be some impressive wins and poles, but it would be remarkable for him to beat Lewis in his first season at Mercedes.
ANTHONY ROWLINSON: Forced into a wing-man role beside Hamilton, he'll rarely be able (or allowed) to outscore Lewis. Destined to finish in Hamilton's exhaust vapour.
JONATHAN NOBLE: Expect a year of progress from Bottas, who will end the year strongly but will face some challenges early on in getting up to speed and extracting the most out of his Mercedes team.
2nd: SEBASTIAN VETTEL
Top prediction: Champion (Karun Chandhok, Gary Anderson, Scott Mitchell)
EDD STRAW: If the Ferrari is as good as it looks, and it looks very good, Vettel is unquestionably capable of winning the championship. But the doubts remain over Ferrari operationally and developmentally, so that might prove his undoing.
STUART CODLING: If things don't go well for him from the off, the toys will come flying out of the pram.
GARY ANDERSON: From what I've seen in testing, Ferrari has at last given him a car to match his talent. When he was at Red Bull in the exhaust-blown diffuser era it suited his driving style to a tee. He likes to turn in and get on the throttle early with the rear of the car sticking. That's what the Ferrari looked like to me.
SCOTT MITCHELL: Vettel's been an easy target since 2014, but he is an explosively brilliant talent. Last year he was a lion locked in a cage, an anxious and restless animal that should be feared if ever let loose. Let's hope Ferrari has found the key.
KARUN CHANDHOK: The car is genuinely fast and Sebastian has plenty of experience of being in a championship fight. Besides, choosing Lewis is the easy option and that's just not fun!
BEN ANDERSON: Ferrari messed up last season, but it will get back on track this year, with a fast and consistent car. This will energise Vettel, who will replenish his champion's credentials, win several races, and push Hamilton all the way to the final race - where Ferrari will mess up his strategy and he'll lose the championship stuck behind Jolyon Palmer's Renault in Abu Dhabi.
JONATHAN NOBLE: Ferrari will start the year as the team to beat, but it still has ground to make up in teams of strategy and development potential - and having two competitive team-mates will result in them taking points off each other.
MATT JAMES: Forget the hype, Ferrari will do its usual trick of raising hopes and then failing to deliver the results it promises. Once that happens, the frustration sets in and the German will start delivering comedy radio messages again.
CHAMPION: LEWIS HAMILTON
Top prediction: Champion (Dieter Rencken, Ben Anderson, Edd Straw, Stuart Codling, Kevin Turner, Damien Smith, Adam Cooper, Jonathan Noble, Matt James)
BEN ANDERSON: Mercedes won't dominate in quite the same way as in recent seasons, but Hamilton will still have the best engine, and should have near enough the best car too - once the pre-season testing creases are ironed out. Hamilton should have been champion last year; reliability willing, he will be this year - but let's hope it's a dogfight all the way with Ferrari and Red Bull.
DAMIEN SMITH: I can't see beyond another Mercedes championship - and Lewis must surely be the man.
DIETER RENCKEN: The class act at the moment, with the best car and team - which no longer has split loyalties. But the season won't be a cakewalk.
KARUN CHANDHOK: If I were a risk-averse person, I would choose Lewis as the winner. He's incredibly fast and driving for a brilliant team which has dominated the last three years of F1.
JONATHAN NOBLE: Mercedes' development potential, allied to having a team-mate that will take time to get fully up to speed, will hand a revitalised Lewis Hamilton the edge in the title battle
EDD STRAW: It looks like it could be harder for Mercedes than the past few years, but it's a team that knows how to win championships and Hamilton can make the team his own. So he has to start the year as favourite.
KEVIN TURNER: Despite Ferrari's testing pace, Hamilton will at worst have a car that is on a par with the SF70H. He will also be hungry to get the title he believes he should have won in 2016. A motivated and focused Hamilton will take some stopping.
GARY ANDERSON: Although Lewis is probably as quick as anyone in the pitlane, I think Mercedes will miss the workhorse that was Nico Rosberg - and Paddy Lowe's shoes won't be easy to fill. From a technical point of view, I believe Paddy kept the team focused on the priorities and didn't let it wander off-course.
MATT JAMES: A class act in the best car. It's difficult to see him getting derailed, particularly now that his self-proclaimed nemesis has cashed in his chips.
ADAM COOPER: Ferrari and Red Bull will clearly present a stronger and more consistent challenge in 2017. However, on balance I believe Mercedes will still get the job done over the season - and Lewis Hamilton will ultimately make the difference.
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