Looking Back At PF1's 2008 Predictions

Tuesday 18th November 2008

Frank Hopkinson, Michelle Foster, Richard Ferraris and Skybets' F1 guru Dave Pilgrim put forward their predictions for 2008. Now it's time to see just how right or wrong they were...

01. Who will win the 2008 Drivers' Championship title?
FH: Kimi Raikkonen. Raikkonen got off to a slow start last year and still won it. Now, without the shadow of Michael Schumacher looming over his shoulder quite so much he'll be able to take a greater leadership role in the team. If he can get a significant early lead over Felipe Massa then it might just be that Ferrari start to favour him (in terms of strategy) earlier in the season than 2007. Luca di Montezemolo has already said that he expects a boring season. Perhaps that's what he means. Last year Jean Todt let Massa compete right till the end, which was a break from the practice they established in 1996 with the arrival of Michael. And now Jean's out on his ear. - 0
MF: I'm going for a Kimi Raikkonen repeat performance, although hopefully this season he won't leave it for the very last minute. - 0
RF: Kimi Raikkonen. - 0
DP: Kimi Raikkonen is Skybet's 5/4 favourite - The flying Finn almost left it too late to get his title bid on track last season, and will know any repeat of his early season inconsistencies could prove disastrous this time around. Early form suggest the new Ferrari will be the car to beat, and somehow I can't see Massa getting the better of Kimi.- 0

02. Which team will win the Constructors' battle?
FH: Ferrari, provided they can fix their oil leak. - 1
MF: Ferrari. McLaren, I think, could still be reeling from the spy scandal, the money it cost them, the FIA searches, etc. So I think it already belongs to Ferrari. - 1
RF: Ferrari. - 1
DP: Ferrari - testing times suggest Ferrari will have the edge over McLaren at the majority of tracks, and I wont be arguing with the general consensus on this one. Ferrari are as short as 4/7 to end the season top of the pile. - 1

03. Who will be the top rookie in 2008?
FH: It depends what you mean by top, because there will be better drivers in slower cars, but in points terms, Nakajima. - 0
MF: Nelson Piquet Jr on points. Kazuki Nakajima could actually be the most impressive of the rookies but still be beaten by Piquet Jr on points. - 1
RF: Shahida Jacobs (PF1's newest recruit), perhaps Nelsinho. - 1
DP: It's a tough question, but I'm going to push the boat out and suggest that Nakajima could be quickest of the new boys. Williams may be ready to take a step forward this season, although the midfield battle will be very close this season. - 0

04. Will all 11 teams compete in the season finale in Brazil?
FH: Yes. Providing it's been a decent enough season to watch on TV. If it's another strollaway for Ferrari then that will put a lot of pressure on Super Aguri. - 0
MF: I don't think all 11 teams compete even now... some just tour around at the back of the field. But anyway, yes I think all 11 teams will line-up on the grid for the Brazilian GP. - 0
RF: All 11 will race, but only two teams will compete for the win. - 0
DP: I certainly hope so, but it's still not 100% certain that we shall see all eleven in Australia, so I won't be making a bold prediction on this one just yet. - 0

05. Hamilton or Kovalainen?
FH: Hamilton. Not a difficult question. - 1
MF: I'd love to say Kovalainen but I believe McLaren will favour Lewis Hamilton (even though Ron keeps insisting he treats his drivers equally) and therefore Hamilton will finish on top. - 1
RF: Lewis Hamilton. - 1
DP: Hamilton - after matching Alonso point for point in 2007, we know he has all the talent required to win the world title in the future. Kovalainen improved in leaps and bounds during the last campaign, but Lewis knows the team inside out and that has to give him the edge. At Skybet we offer 4/9 that Lewis outscores Heikki, and 13/8 about the Finn. - 1

06. Who will be the first driver to be dropped?
FH: Coulthard. He won't be dropped, but without a deal for 2009 he'll say his farewells early. Barrichello might be tempted, too, but as Brazil is his home race he has an incentive to stay till the end. - 0
MF: If anyone is dropped it will be Rubens Barrichello or Giancarlo Fisichella - but I don't think it's going to happen. - 1
RF: Rubens Barrichello, surely? - 0
DP: Sadly I would have to say Anthony Davidson, as money may become more important than talent for his seat if enough factory backing cannot be found. - 0

07. Will Ron Dennis still be McLaren boss at the end of the season?
FH: Yes, but more in the sense that Frank Williams is the boss of Williams, but doesn't go to all the races. - 1
MF: Yes. Ron has a stake in that team, they can't just fire him. - 1
RF: No, I have faith in the Times' prediction. - 0
DP: Yes. Ron may become less involved, but I think he still has unsettled scores, and will be determined to put 2007 behind him and the team. - 1

08. Will Button finish on the podium?
FH: Only if he loses his way walking out of parc ferme. - 1
MF: Depends on whether there's a three-car only race - and even though I don't think he'll make it. - 1
RF: Only in terms of the drivers' girlfriends. - 1
DP: Michael Fish is probably the best placed man to answer this question. Button looks highly unlikely to threaten at the sharper end in dry races, so he will surely be hoping for the heavens to open a few times this season so he can really demonstrate his unique talents in the wet. - 1

09. The biggest disappointment of the season will be...
FH: Lack of a grand finale to the season. It will be cut and dried with something like two races to go. And Honda will have another 'mare. - 0
MF: Not seeing Hamilton and Alonso having a punch-up in the pits! I'd buy a ring-side ticket for that one. - 1
RF: It's tempting to say Alonso or that banning TC won't improve racing, but the night-race gimmick is likely to be a let-down. - 0
DP: Giancarlo Fisichella. Outside of a competitive drive could leave Fisi looking rather ordinary - and I strongly suspect Sutil will outshine his more experienced team-mate. - 1

10. Red Bull Racing or Toro Rosso?
FH: Red Bull. They have Newey and Willis - and god knows how much faster they'd be if they could have the Ferrari engines. - 0
MF: Red Bull. Even though I love the two Sebs, Red Bull have a better technical crew and won't let their B-team get the jump on them. - 0
RF: Always the underdogs - besides the fact that their lineup has serious potential. - 1
DP: Red Bull - the bigger budgets and top class key players should ensure there are no embarrassments in this department. - 0

11. Who won't be re-signed for 2009: Trulli, Coulthard, Fisichella or Barrichello?
FH: : All of them except Trulli. DC should get a testing role because he is a fantastic development driver. I wouldn't be surprised to see him return to a McLaren role. He has a McLaren mindset. - 0
MF: Barrichello and Coulthard. - 1/2
RF: Barrichello's career must be over [puts hands together and prays]. Fisi has a contract until 2009 and has probably found his level at the back of the grid so he will probably be around next season. DC to Prodrive...maybe? - 1/2
DP: I think 2008 could be the last year for all four realistically. Rubens has been outclassed by Button ever since joining Honda, and DC is definitely winding down - and as for Fisi - a pointless year in 2008 after struggling to secure the drive would not be the perfect preparation for holding onto his seat. - 0

12. In what month will the first Lewis Hamilton 'kiss and tell' be published in the British press?
FH: July in time for the British GP. - 0
MF: Actually the first 'kiss and tell' was already published last season. So I guess this year will be book two. - 0
RF: What kind of a question is that? - 1
DP: Lewis will be far too busy trying to keep up with Kimi to have time to land himself in the spot-light for off-track antics. - 1

13. Biggest surprise of the year?
FH: Williams return to the sharp end of the grid. - 0
MF: Sales on Lewis' 2008 'kiss and tell' will bomb. - 0
RF: Wouldn't it be wonderful if Force India secured a couple of points finishes? - 0
DP: I don't want to ruin the surprise! But I will be watching Alonso with interest to see whether he can drag the Renault back to the front. - 1

14. Biggest mistake of the year?
FH: We've seen from Alonso's time at Renault (with Fisi) and McLaren very conspicuously last year with Hamilton, that Fernando doesn't like competition within his own team. Nevertheless Nelson Piquet Jr. is a feisty character and nobody's pussy. He won't want to be trashed by Alonso when his great GP2 rival of 2006, Lewis Hamilton, could easily match him for pace. So there is a great potential for friction and aggravation in that relationship and that could cause mistakes. - 0
MF: Alonso signing with Renault - although I'm not sure if that's Renault's mistake or Alonso's. - 0
RF: The Hungarian GP anyone? - 1
DP: Running out of 10p's for the Meter in Singapore. - 0

15. How many cars will be overtaken on the track for position during the Monaco GP?
FH: Not counting the start - five. - 0
MF: Three, excluding those who manage to leap ahead at the start.- 0
RF: The same number of points as Super Aguri will score. Zero. - 0
DP: 12? - 1

16. Can Super Aguri upstage Honda? Again.
FH: With Ross Brawn at Honda? The question is damnable heresy. Not a chance. - 1
MF: No, Honda won't let that happen. Again. - 1
RF: No, they don't have Ross Brawn. - 1
DP: It's happened once, but I don't think Honda will be keen to repeat those mistakes. Button has been upbeat about the improvements to come, and the acquisition of Ross Brawn is a bit step in the right direction. - 1

17. Sebastien or Sebastian?
FH: To do what? To break mirrors with their stunning good looks? To be the first driver with glasses to win a GP since Professor Pat Pending? To be the latest member of the Mark Webber fan club? I think that the answer is Sebastian and I'll provide the question in Brazil. - 1
MF: Sebastian Vettel I think will have the upper hand over his Champ Car team-mate. But it should be close. - 1
RF: Vettel. He has the edge in terms of experience in the cockpit of an F1 car. - 1
DP: Another tricky one, and I'd bet them 5/6 each, but if I wanted to avoid splinters from sitting on the fence, I would have to say Bourdais. He might take a few races to get up to speed, but his experience should help. - 0

18. According to the AA Routefinder device, it should take Pete Gill two hours and five minutes to travel from Silverstone to his home. How long will the journey actually take on the evening of the British GP?
FH: Which of Pete Gill's homes do you mean? His shooting estate is a whole lot closer than that and if he takes the helicopter it will only be thirty minutes - providing his masseuse, his grape tosser and his manicurist can all fit in. - 1
MF: That depends on how many pubs Mr Gill stops at on his way home. - 1
RF: What ever happened to the PF1 helicopter? - 1
DP: Pete is experienced enough to know that he should be heading to the after race party on the infield to beat the traffic for a trouble free journey home after watching Tony Jardine and Jenson Button's post-race antics. - 1

19. Will F1's first night race in Singapore live up the hype?
FH: It's going to be a blast. - 0
MF: I think the brakes glowing red will be worth it. So yes, it will. - 0
RF: See question #9. - 1
DP: The jury is still out, but I'm all for the idea if it means I'm not required up at 4am to bet the race in-running from the Skybet offices. - 1

20. Best quote of the season will go to...
FH: Mark ****ing Webber. - 0
MF: Not Kimi that's for sure. - 1
RF: In the PF1 towers, Mr Gill. In a press conference, Kimi. - 1/2
DP: Martin Brundle every time someone riles him on the grid. His Prime-Minister incident in 2007 was the stuff of legends. - 1

And The Scores Are In
Frank Hopkinson: 7 ½
Michelle Foster: 11 1/2
Richard Ferraris: 12
Dave Pilgrim: 12

Post to del.icio.us

E-mail Article Print-Friendly Version Subscribe to Editorial RSS Feed