so what's wrong with Ferrari?
 

or more pointedly, what's up with Schumi? Butt-slow so far this year. I guess the new rules have had the desired effect.

I dont know, but when I clicked this thread I was expecting a pic of a red car sitting next to the 620 ;)

Supposedly they were overconfident and didn't feel the need to get the M2005 ready for the start of the season. The other teams caught up. Their other problem is a lack of teams signed with Bridgestone. They don't get as much feedback and Michelin is running away so far.

Hopefully the new car will be competitive but not dominating because so far it is a great season - even Toyota's come alive. If BAR can get their engine problems fixed - it'll be four or five teams fighting for the title.

I suspect that Bridgestone hasn't risen to the challege as well as Michelin has wrt making tires that last a weekend. And maybe they had to detune the engine to make it last 2 weekends, but they had good straightline speed at Malaysia, so instead maybe the chassis is lacking after the aero changes?

We'll see how the '05 car does. It might make the grid at Bahrain, but I suspect they will want a bit more seat time.

Have they even brought the new car out yet?? Like JSDSKI said, they wait a couple races every year to bring out the new stuff....just to see where people are at.

I saw somewhere that Bridgestone was taking the blame for their performance so far du to crappy tires. Ok, maybe that's not exactly what was said but you get the jist.

It's Schumacher's driving style. Think about it; in years past he has never done well passing or being passed on the track. His strategy has always been to wait until an opponent pits to pass him. Michael rips off several extremely fast laps on a clear track, never having to pass another car, getting enough of a cushion to come out ahead from his own pit stop. This strategy uses up tires, but when he could get a fresh set every stop, so what. Now that he has to manage his tires and makes them last, he is not able to employ this particular strategy. So was F1 really trying to save money on tires? I don't think so. I think it was a masterfull stroke in their efforts to achieve parity with Schumi throughout the field.

For the past 3 years the opposition has underachieved, Williams and McLaren have produced chassis that were dogs or also (in the case of mercedes) crappy motors, while Renault trying to be original put a too-complex low on power motor in their car... For the first time in a few years they collectively seem to have pulled their fingers out of their asses and Ferrari, who had been able to cruise along with their old cars for a few races in each new season, got caught with its pants down.

That and Bridgestone screwed the pooch... I expect both problems to be resolved within a couple of races... Now, will that have been enough time for the non-ferrari teams to open up a gap that makes 1/2 of the seaon interesting or not, is the question ;-)

I am very dissapointed in McLaren and Williams so far. Thank God for Renault !

interesting how two mediocre races immediately cause everyone to want to declare Ferrari d.o.a. sheesh peeps, give it a break. should the team still not deliver with the new car, then there may be cause for concern. but for now just enjoy the show. no, really

I really think it is refreshing to see other drivers and teams getting a chance to join the points battle. How many races into last year's season did we have a good guess at the outcome of rankings? In reality if I had no clue who was driving what car or all of the cars were identical (in markings, not performance) I would still stay up late to watch and listen to those beautiful machines in the hands of skilled people.
-Jeremy

tires, tires, tires!