My Past F1 Predictions

[jens]

Yeah it's funny to recall expectations. Now I remember, when it was announced that Heidfeld would switch from Prost to Sauber, I was a bit relieved even if not happy. It was even announced Heidfeld would get a 3-year-deal at Sauber, which was disappointing as I had hoped Heidfeld would get McLaren seat soon.

But I was relieved, because I was thinking "all right at least in Sauber he can score points." Because I had seen Prost in 1998 and 2000 and them being absolutely useless, while Sauber always had at least a solid car in which you could score points from time to time.

When it was announced that Button joins Benetton from Williams, I thought "That's a step backwards, for sure." I didn't take the Benetton-Renault 2001 hype seriously, because in my mind Renault re-joined in 2002 and before that they were still the "privateer underwhelming downward-spiral Benetton."

I also find it interesting guys that you were fond of the likes of Mazzacane, Marques, Zonta, etc. I personally didn't care much about them and I disliked Zonta, because he took out Michael Schumacher in Austria and I didn't forgive him that!

But I really-really liked other underdog drivers, who showed some serious speed at times, but really most of the time didn't have the machinery, consistency or were just unlucky. Most notably Verstappen, but also de la Rosa. I liked Salo too and didn't find his signing for Sauber uninspiring. He had a reputation of a very consistent driver and was a Monaco expert and I thought this should yield Sauber some points. And he duly did score 6 points in 2000, tying with Trulli in the championship for P10. Considering Trulli was faster most of the time, this confrimed to me, how unlucky had Trulli been that year. And how Salo had capitalized on every opportunity that year. Even after the Austria start chaos he was 3rd after the start for a short time. And in Hockenheim wet-weather-mess scored points too. And of course got points at Monaco again, like he did for Tyrrell and Arrows.

Also, well... Back then I rated Monaco as really-really important place to showcase driver skill. And I remember I rated drivers like Fisichella, Trulli, Alesi, Salo highly also because they went very well at Monaco. I remember Trulli was always quick there, Fisichella got podiums, Alesi qualified the rubbish Prost an awesome 7th in 2000. I remember thinking - "now this is where the very talented drivers finally can show what they are really made of despite rubbish car." Alesi was also running in 4th and 5th in Belgium that year after a bit of a moisty-slippery conditions early in the race. I was again overjoyed - "when it gets wet, master like Alesi capitalizes." Sadly he retired again, because the car had no reliability at all, like BAR in 1999 had been.