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F1: Teams and Drivers
Friday, March 04, 2005
The 2005 season of F1 will be starting this weekend in Melbourne, Australia. For those who are out-of-touch with this sport, here are the driver list for teams participating this weekend.
FERRARI
Michael Schumacher, Rubens Barrichello
Schuey and Rubens stay together for a sixth successive year. Ferrari have won every drivers’ and constructors’ championship since the duo first linked up in 2000.
But they’re not just the quickest combo out there, they’re the most experienced too. Michael should beat David Coulthard’s record of 150 appearances for a single team next year while Rubens is only two grands prix away from 200 F1 starts.
McLAREN
Kimi Raikkonen, Juan Pablo Montoya
Raikkonen and Montoya should be F1’s most explosive driver combination in years. Their battle to the flag at Brazil served up a mouth-watering taste of what we can expect.
Will Kimi be unsettled by his brash, outspoken new team-mate? Can McLaren really get that much more out of Montoya? It will be fascinating to find out.
WILLIAMS
Mark Webber, Nick Heidfeld
The Jenson Button trail may have run cold but Frank and Patrick can content themselves with the signing of Mark Webber, an identikit Williams driver if ever there was one.
The battle for the second seat was a real cliffhanger, with Nick Heidfeld being selected as the winner of a six-week shoot-out with Antonio Pizzonia just minutes before the team's 2005 launch. The German will be out to make the most of his big chance, having spent his F1 career to date marking time with midfield teams.
RENAULT
Fernando Alonso, Giancarlo Fisichella
Having jettisoned Jarno Trulli, for so long the only man to have beaten Michael Schumacher this season, Flav has rehired Giancarlo Fisichella, who he booted out at the end of 2001.
The coming season should make or break Fernando Alonso’s reputation as F1’s Next Big Thing. He hasn’t always looked the part this year but beating Fisi soundly next year could pave the way for him to eventually succeed Schuey at Ferrari.
BAR
Jenson Button, Takuma Sato
So Jenson stays put after all that. But he and Sir Frank have already made noises that he could be on his way to Williams in 2006. In the meantime, it will be fascinating to see how well he rebuilds his bridges at BAR.
Takuma Sato is entering the final year of a three-year contract with the team. He may have the backing of Honda but will need to show consistency to match that explosive pace if he wants to stay in a top car.
SAUBER
Jacques Villeneuve, Felipe Massa
After three lacklustre races for Renault, signing Jacques Villeneuve no longer seems the blinding coup it appeared six weeks ago. Still, let’s hope the 1997 world champion rediscovers his form when he has a full pre-season under his belt.
Felipe Massa stays on for a third year with Sauber. Like Sato, he must prove that he is maturing as a driver if he wants to further his career at a higher level. Ferrari will be watching with interest…
TOYOTA
Ralf Schumacher, Jarno Trulli
F1’s richest team have splashed the cash this year to secure two race winners for 2005. Whether they could have got more for their money than the inconsistent Trulli and Schuey Jr is a moot point.
Trulli has signed a two-year contract with the team while Ralf, who hopes to do for Toyota what brother Michael has done for Ferrari, is tied down for three seasons.
RED BULL
David Coulthard, Vitantonio Liuzzi
It initially seemed that Red Bull boss Dietrich Mateschitz was desperate to continue his company's policy of grooming young talent - but ex-Jag bosses Tony Purnell and David Pitchforth have convinced him of the need for an experienced driver - hence the signing of Coulthard.
JORDAN
Narain Karthikeyan, Tiago Monteiro
Jordan go into 2005 with an all-new driver line-up to go with their new ownership.
The decision to hire two rookies may seem questionable, but remember that the team's new sporting director Trevor Carlin has worked with both of them extensively before.
MINARDI
Christijan Albers, Patrick Friesacher
Minardi unveiled Christijan Albers as their first race driver just two days before Christmas.
Paul Stoddart tested more than a dozen drivers for the second seat before eventually opting for Austrian Patrick Friesacher. It means that Minardi, like Jordan, will have an all-rookie line-up in 2005.
FERRARI
Michael Schumacher, Rubens Barrichello
Schuey and Rubens stay together for a sixth successive year. Ferrari have won every drivers’ and constructors’ championship since the duo first linked up in 2000.
But they’re not just the quickest combo out there, they’re the most experienced too. Michael should beat David Coulthard’s record of 150 appearances for a single team next year while Rubens is only two grands prix away from 200 F1 starts.
McLAREN
Kimi Raikkonen, Juan Pablo Montoya
Raikkonen and Montoya should be F1’s most explosive driver combination in years. Their battle to the flag at Brazil served up a mouth-watering taste of what we can expect.
Will Kimi be unsettled by his brash, outspoken new team-mate? Can McLaren really get that much more out of Montoya? It will be fascinating to find out.
WILLIAMS
Mark Webber, Nick Heidfeld
The Jenson Button trail may have run cold but Frank and Patrick can content themselves with the signing of Mark Webber, an identikit Williams driver if ever there was one.
The battle for the second seat was a real cliffhanger, with Nick Heidfeld being selected as the winner of a six-week shoot-out with Antonio Pizzonia just minutes before the team's 2005 launch. The German will be out to make the most of his big chance, having spent his F1 career to date marking time with midfield teams.
RENAULT
Fernando Alonso, Giancarlo Fisichella
Having jettisoned Jarno Trulli, for so long the only man to have beaten Michael Schumacher this season, Flav has rehired Giancarlo Fisichella, who he booted out at the end of 2001.
The coming season should make or break Fernando Alonso’s reputation as F1’s Next Big Thing. He hasn’t always looked the part this year but beating Fisi soundly next year could pave the way for him to eventually succeed Schuey at Ferrari.
BAR
Jenson Button, Takuma Sato
So Jenson stays put after all that. But he and Sir Frank have already made noises that he could be on his way to Williams in 2006. In the meantime, it will be fascinating to see how well he rebuilds his bridges at BAR.
Takuma Sato is entering the final year of a three-year contract with the team. He may have the backing of Honda but will need to show consistency to match that explosive pace if he wants to stay in a top car.
SAUBER
Jacques Villeneuve, Felipe Massa
After three lacklustre races for Renault, signing Jacques Villeneuve no longer seems the blinding coup it appeared six weeks ago. Still, let’s hope the 1997 world champion rediscovers his form when he has a full pre-season under his belt.
Felipe Massa stays on for a third year with Sauber. Like Sato, he must prove that he is maturing as a driver if he wants to further his career at a higher level. Ferrari will be watching with interest…
TOYOTA
Ralf Schumacher, Jarno Trulli
F1’s richest team have splashed the cash this year to secure two race winners for 2005. Whether they could have got more for their money than the inconsistent Trulli and Schuey Jr is a moot point.
Trulli has signed a two-year contract with the team while Ralf, who hopes to do for Toyota what brother Michael has done for Ferrari, is tied down for three seasons.
RED BULL
David Coulthard, Vitantonio Liuzzi
It initially seemed that Red Bull boss Dietrich Mateschitz was desperate to continue his company's policy of grooming young talent - but ex-Jag bosses Tony Purnell and David Pitchforth have convinced him of the need for an experienced driver - hence the signing of Coulthard.
JORDAN
Narain Karthikeyan, Tiago Monteiro
Jordan go into 2005 with an all-new driver line-up to go with their new ownership.
The decision to hire two rookies may seem questionable, but remember that the team's new sporting director Trevor Carlin has worked with both of them extensively before.
MINARDI
Christijan Albers, Patrick Friesacher
Minardi unveiled Christijan Albers as their first race driver just two days before Christmas.
Paul Stoddart tested more than a dozen drivers for the second seat before eventually opting for Austrian Patrick Friesacher. It means that Minardi, like Jordan, will have an all-rookie line-up in 2005.