Dear Heretic: I agree with you that Rubens is trying everything (and anything) to try to out strategize Michael. The trouble is that Michael is more than just a gifted organizer and planner. He is also supremely gifted at driving a race car. So the reason it looks like Rubens is in another car is simple. He is. He's in a car NOT driven by Michael.
I hope you are right about Hungary. I would love to see Kimi on the podium along with Jenson. In fact I expect to see them both there, but I still can't bring myself to believe that Michael won't be on the first step. Let's see what happens.
P.S. Why didn't you say anything about Juan Pablo? I know that Fernando is brilliant, but I'm pretty sure that if his partner were J.P.M. rather than J.T. he'd be having the kind of season Ralph has had.
I can't WAIT to see Kimi and J.P.M. next year. I think people will be remembering the glory years of Ayrton and his various "team-mates"!
Will the Red Cars be handing out the crumbs to the rest. I don't think so. And I expect to be thrilled again by Michael. This time when he's NOT driving the best car - Jim W (Reference Heretic 6-11 - Maybe Michael Schumacher will not dominate)

The Heretic replies:

Hi Jim,

I love your comment that Barrichello is in a different car. How very appropriate!

At present it is very hard to assess drivers other than against team mates. I know this has always been true but this season Williams, McLaren and Renault have been so inconsistent that it is hard to know how the drivers stack up.

JPM's driving style is aggressive and harsh. He is very assertive with the wheel and needs a car that can compliment his style. I am not sure that the current F1 car does that.
From a personality point of view I think that he is a formidable team-mate. Alonso, or any of the younger drivers with the possible exception of Button, will struggle alongside him.

I hope you are right in your assumption that Ferrari will not be dominant next year. That will be great but which team do you think will get that much better? I am starting to doubt that it will be Renault because they seem to have built their current car around the start of the race and is compromising performance during the race. That could take more than the winter to sort out.

And Jim W replies

Dear Heretic:

I expect BAR and especially HONDA! to build next year on the solid work they've done. It will hurt them not having Button, but maybe Hakkinen will agree to drive for them and wouldn't THAT be fun! I think it would also be interesting, if unlikely, if they took Villeneuve back.

I hope, too, that you're wrong about Renault. I think Flavio is VERY hungry for the good old days, and Renault should have the cash and expertise to back him up. It'll be fun to see Fisi in a solid car, too.

I'm baffled by BMW/Williams and have no idea what to expect from them. As others have pointed out, the lack of continuity suggested by the driver switch (never mind the playing around with the aero stuff and the walrus nose!) suggests either a massive step forward --or back; whatever, it seems unlikely that they'll be the challenge to Maranello.

I hope that McLaren will have identified the problem (or the problem set) by next year; they'll certainly have the drivers to contest Michael! The question is will they have the engines!?? and can they keep the wings from fluttering off!?

I've not put my picks in yet for Spa. I think I'll have to pick Michael to win. But I'm not so sure about Rubens. Could it be Michael, Jenson, and Kimi? I'd love to see the three in a group flying through eau rouge!! Cheers,

The Heretic replies:

Hi Jim,

Sorry it took me so long to reply. I was always planning to reply after the race but not this late.

It is more likely that one of the Japanese teams will ultimately dominate F1. I base that purely on their determination and dedication (which we have seen in other areas of motor sport). BMW and Mercedes may get there first but I suspect that if they do it will not last very long. That is if Mercedes hangs in there.

Renault have a chance too but I wonder how long their big budgets will last. I confess that it is mostly gut feeling on my part but I think that it will take them almost all of next year to be competitive.

Honda are getting it right. Their influence on chassis design and the overall management of BAR is also paying dividends. They could be very strong next year.

McLaren also seem to be on the brink of becoming a force again. I think their rise is more imminent than Williams.

Again it is gut feeling but I believe that Toyota will ultimately become the team to beat. The only question is: How long will it take? If they keep on progressing at the rate that they did in this season it may not happen in our lifetime.

BAR without Button may be held back a little until their drivers come to grips. I am not sure that I agree with your enthusiasm to see Hakkinen back. His last season was very pedestrian and we may find that whatever bothered him then has not dissipated.

Villeneuve could be different but there seems to be so much bad blood that I agree: it is unlikely.

You were right about Williams. They seem to be going through a confused phase but Montoya did finish in front of both BARs. Maybe something good will come out of their confusion. After all BAR managed to run on the chaos theory for years and eventually got there.

I think that McLaren may have fixed their rear wing but it is interesting that they had a similar problem back in the Hakkinen days. Back then they had so much downforce that they kept on blowing rear tyres.

Did you pick Barrichello? I hope you did.

The challenge now is to guess how fast the Honda engines will be. And if they are, will they last?

Enjoy the race

The Heretic

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